Kamal Haasan met Vijay on Saturday
CHENNAI: Rajya Sabha member Kamal Haasan has urged the Tamil Nadu govt to launch a state-owned OTT platform where the Tamil audience can access Tamil cinema, independent films and documentaries at affordable and subsidised rates. He made the plea on behalf of the cinema industry and millions of fans when he called on chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday. He submitted two memorandums with other demands to him, urging him to consider them positively.The MP suggested a ‘mandatory 8-week OTT window’ for all films, enabling theatre owners and distributors to sustain themselves. He urged the abolition of the local body entertainment tax. “In view of rising production, distribution and theatre operation costs, I request the abolition of the local body entertainment tax levied at 4%. This relief will greatly help the Tamil film industry,” he said.Kamal advocated formation of a strong anti-piracy team. “Piracy destroys the hard work and investment of thousands of artists, technicians, and producers. I request the creation of a dedicated anti-piracy enforcement team within the Tamil Nadu police cybercrime department to protect Tamil cinema with powers to enforce real-time takedowns of pirated content,” he said.The MNM founder requested the govt to permit theatres to screen five shows a day. “This will improve theatre revenues and support recovery of the film exhibition sector,” he said. He requested the govt to introduce a production incentive of up to 10% of the budget for Indian films that complete more than 50% of their shooting in Tamil Nadu. “This will restore Tamil Nadu as India’s leading film production hub while also generating employment and promoting tourism,” he said.In another memorandum, Kamal urged the govt to eliminate manual scavenging through robotics. “Young Indian startups have already developed these technologies, and Tamil Nadu can lead India in proving that innovation and humanity together can end this cruel product of the caste system,” he said, promising to extend his MPLADS funds and personal contributions for the mission.He urged the govt to launch a special scheme through which local bodies, philanthropists and private individuals may be allotted land to construct and maintain libraries and skill development centres in every village of Tamil Nadu through CSR partnerships.Posting the two memorandums on X, Kamal said he called on Vijay and greeted him. “He (Vijay) shared many dreams of improving Tamil Nadu with enthusiasm. The character and love he showed during the meeting were touching. I have given him six important requests emphasising that the Tamil film industry is facing various disruptions, needs support and warmth from the Tamil Nadu govt,” he said.
