Does film industry deserve more concessions?

Hyderabad: The South Indian film industry wanted the Centre to scrape professional tax as they are making loss. A representation to this effect will be sent to the Union Finance Ministry.

When it comes to Tollywood, 93 per cent of the films are flops, so the industry cannot bear the service tax. The producer, distributor or exhibitor cannot pass on the service tax burden to the public as the State Government refused permit any hike in ticket rates.

In simple words, the general public has to pay for the film and if that is not possible the government has to compensate goes the argument.

What accountability does the film industry has. Whether they are following all the set norms? Are they autocratic in functioning, is there democracy can small-timers survive or how fair is the industry and who is to be blamed for the fops?

These are serious questions which the industry biggies have to ask themselves and see if their own house is clean.

When dubbing films became successful, there was a lot of hue and cry and representations went up to increase the tax percent and restrict the number of screens, ban their release on festivals.

So on Sankranti only three (two originally slated) films were released. Not that other films were not ready. They simply did not appear on the screen. Post-production work is something which can be done in a few days and can take months together.

Producer, distributor, exhibitor are three entities but there the dividing line is very thin. Big production houses become all in one. They produce films, buy territorial rights and they also have control over theatres which they take on lease. That is why small budget films do not get dates, theatres and response in the desired measure.

Invariably the biggies are into all the affiliate bodies of the Film Chamber and things become easy.

Tollywood has come to town with lots of sops from the government and in return what it is giving to the public is a debatable point.

Who is responsible for the 93 per cent flops? Did the government or the general public ask for flops? To promote a son or other kin a film is produced at the cost of a small budget film, which do not find theatres.

There should be clarity in the industry. It is not social work what they are doing. It is enterprise. Profit or loss, they have to bear it.

Since the government has given land and other amenities, they should return the favour in some form. The house itself is not in order. There is resentment on import of artistes and technicians ignoring local talent.

It is a serious matter. You want a ban on dubbing films on one hand and ignore locals and bring outsiders for the films. This dichotomy is very unpleasant.

During the recent past a different kind of cinema has come up projecting Hyderabadi tehzeeb and the makers call themselves Deccani style.

Starting from The Angrez to Gullu Dada series they have made a lot of impact among the Hyderabadi community. The State Film Chamber refuses to recognise them.

They have been paying 20 per cent entertainment tax while Tolloywood, with all the freebies it had from the government, is paying just 7 per cent.

No Tollywood film has ever shown the Hyderabadi tehzeeb in its true form till now, though the entire industry is based in the city.

When someone is showing it and has been accepted in areas where the Deccani style goes well, including Gulf countries, Tollywood fails to recognise it.

They want Centre to give more sops. Fine they deserve what they are asking for but what they are doing or not doing should also be reviewed before taking any step.