Entertainment Tax Must Be Reduced to Promote Business In India

New Delhi 28th August: “India is the largest film producing country in the World. We make around 2000 films in a year. The turnover of the film industry is going to touch 12000 crore. The industry is surviving because the passionate people, they are deriving it to its best.” said Sandeep Marwah President of International Chamber of Media And Entertainment Industry at an International Media Summit at Hotel Hyatt, New Delhi. ‘Most of the films are not doing well; hardly we get our money back. 75 percent of the films are in losses. Many producers have stopped making films, as recovery is difficult. Government should understand the point of view of Producer who is the real entrepreneur,” said J.P.Chowksey President Film Federation of India. “Every one who is working for cinema right from actors to spot boy gets their remuneration even before the release of the film. The producer is always at the risk. We need government support in reducing entertainment tax so that large number of people can watch cinema,” added T.P.Agarwal President Indian Motion Picture Producers Association. “When there is no tax on cinema and other entertainment segments downloaded from internet why it should be on cinema at theatres where much more efforts are involved. Where film industry is helping so many other industries to grow simultaneously,” added Sandeep Marwah President ICMEI. All the film organizations have joined hands together to pursue with the government to reduce the tax rates and bring all India entertainment tax at par to give same rebate to all the producers of the country. Representatives of FFI, IMPPA, Film Craft, Western India Film Producers Association, Film Makers Combine will write a joint application to the Government very soon informed Ashok Tyagi Secretary General of ICMEI.