Tamil Nadu theatres to remain shut to protest against GST
Recently, the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association had taken to protest against Goods and Services Tax (GST) and as a mark, it decided to shut down the multiplexes starting from 3rd July. The indefinite strike called by theatre owners is against the imposition of 30 percent local body tax in addition to GST. Multiplexes withheld advance bookings for Monday since the GST roll-out.
Tamil Nadu theatres to remain shut to protest against GST
Recently, the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association had taken to protest against Goods and Services Tax (GST) and as a mark, it decided to shut down the multiplexes starting from 3rd July. The indefinite strike called by theatre owners is against the imposition of 30 percent local body tax in addition to GST. Multiplexes withheld advance bookings for Monday since the GST roll-out.
Big movies will determine impact of GST: Theatre owners
Tamil Nadu Cinema Theatre Owners Federation president Abirami Ramanathan said that there is a decrease in the sale of movie tickets across Tamil Nadu but only a big movie will help gauge the impact of GST. Following the GST implementation, the price of the balcony ticket rose from Rs. 60 to Rs. 80 and stall ticket from Rs. 80 to Rs. 100 in theatres.
Ticket prices after GST
The GST council has fixed the rate for movie tickets under two categories- one under the tickets costing over Rs. 100, the tax levied will be 28 percent and the tickets costing below Rs. 100, will have 18 percent tax levied.
What do theatre industry insiders have to say
The Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association joint secretary S Sridhar explained that if the entertainment tax is added to GST, theatre owners will be forced to pay 53% of ticket rate as tax to the government which would not be feasible for the industry. Explaining the numbers further, he added that theatre owners would get only Rs. 12.3 per ticket which is inadequate.
