India: Call to clamp down on piracy

[Len]

Flagging the various challenges being faced by the Tamil film industry, DMK MLA and actor Vagai Chanderasekar on Monday urged the State government to contain the menace posed by ‘Tamil Rockers’ — a piracy website, and do away with the entertainment tax being collected by the local bodies from cinema patrons.

Participating in the debate on the demand for grants for the Information and Publicity Department, Mr. Chanderasekar (Velachery) said that the Tamil Rockers portal posed a major threat to the livelihood of youth employed in the cinema industry. “Even a day before the [official] release of a film, Tamil Rockers releases it online, and this is severely affecting the industry. It [the portal] has become like an anti-hero in films,” the MLA said.

Information Minister Kadambur C. Raju did not respond to his plea.

As for his demand to abolish the entertainment tax, Mr. Raju said the levy was set at 30% initially, and following several rounds of talks between various associations and the government, it was reduced to 10%, and then to 8%.

Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani reiterated that the 8% levy was arrived at following meetings with industry representatives.

To a plea for cine awards to be given away at the earliest, Mr. Raju said efforts were already on, and the awards would be presented after consultations with the Chief Minister.

As for the delay in presenting the Kalaimamani award, which was raised by Mr. Chanderasekar, Minister for Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture Ma. Foi. K. Pandiarajan said the delay was due to the cases filed in the Madras High Court, and that steps were being taken to announce the award soon.