entertainment tax

The Film Chamber plans a symbolic strike on March 27, the release date of ‘Empuraan,’ claiming new film releases must have prior permission. Accusations suggest it's to block 'Empuraan'. Producer Antony Perumbavoor faces action after a controversial Facebook post about Suresh Kumar. Netizens and fans believe the strike is against the growth of the Malayalam film industry. Previously, the Film Chamber supported an entertainment tax exemption protest, emphasizing no actor is indispensable. The issue has sparked significant public debate and interest.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured that efforts will be made to promote the Vicky Kaushal starrer 'Chhava', which narrates the history of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The movie is already tax-free in Maharashtra following the abolition of entertainment tax in 2017.

The Kerala Film Producers' Association will proceed with their planned strike starting June 1 despite opposition from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists. The strike aims to address financial struggles of producers, not targeting actors. Suresh Kumar of KFPA stated that no individual star's opinion will affect the decision. Meanwhile, Antony Perumbavoor is in conflict with the Kerala Film Chamber over his critical remarks.

AMMA has opposed the planned strike by the Kerala Film Producers’ Association (KFPA), set to start on June 1. The strike is in response to financial losses from high entertainment taxes and rising actor salaries. AMMA believes the strike would worsen the industry's financial issues. They emphasized their willingness to discuss solutions and assured legal support to Jayan Cherthala in his dispute with KFPA.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised the film Chhaava for its accurate historical depiction of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The film, released on February 14, has received significant acclaim and prompted calls for promotion, despite the abolition of entertainment tax in 2017. Chhaava's box office success has sparked cultural enthusiasm, incidents in theaters, and discussions on historical representation in cinema.

The Malayalam film industry is on the verge of a complete shutdown starting June 1, as financial struggles continue to plague producers, distributors, and exhibitors. Film producer G Suresh Kumar announced this decision on February 6 following a joint meeting of industry associations, including the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA).

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to Jaya Bachchan’s criticism, clarifying that entertainment tax falls under state jurisdiction. She highlighted GST reductions on movie tickets and detailed government initiatives supporting the film industry, including hosting WAVES 2025 and establishing a National Centre for Excellence for Animation and Visual Effects.

Actress Jaya Bachchan and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman engaged in a heated debate in the Rajya Sabha over the treatment of the film industry in the Union Budget. Jaya Bachchan accused the government of neglecting the industry, while Sitharaman defended the government's stance and highlighted past political actions against film personalities.

In response to rising financial difficulties caused by high taxes and soaring actor fees, key organizations in the Malayalam film industry announced a complete shutdown effective from June 1, 2025. They demand tax relaxation and salary cuts for actors, citing unsustainable costs that threaten the industry's survival. A meeting with the Kerala Chief Minister is planned to address these concerns.

Renowned Malayalam film producer Suresh Kumar criticized leading actors for demanding high fees that do not match box office returns, challenging them to cite any film earning over Rs 100 crore in share revenue. Amid industry-wide financial losses reaching Rs 700 crore in 2024, multiple film bodies announced an indefinite strike from June 1, 2025. Kumar emphasized financial strain on producers and threatened to disclose actors' remuneration figures if disputes persist. He also mentioned that despite high production costs, many technicians struggle to make a living.

All film activities in Kerala are set to halt indefinitely from June 1 as industry bodies, led by the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce, protest high taxation and escalating actor fees. Producers face a financial crunch with 60 percent of budgets allocated to actors' salaries. Despite losses surpassing Rs 100 crore in January, government assistance has been lacking. A memorandum will be presented to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking intervention. 'Rekhachithram' remains one of the few successful releases amidst the ongoing crisis.

Various Malayalam film bodies, which have been in regular consultations on issues facing the industry, on Thursday called for a total shutdown of all film activities, including shooting and screening of films, from June 1.