Mangalore: Protest Against Proposed Service Tax - Theatres Closed

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 23: Cinema theatres in the city remained closed on Thursday February 23 in the wake of a call given for nationwide bandh given by Film Federation of India (FFI) in protest against the proposal of the central government to levy service tax on film industry.

It is expected that over 9,000 theatres spread to the length and breadth of the country will go without any film being screened on Thursday. However, multiplexes are not taking part in this protest, it is gathered.

In the city, nearly all theatres including Central, Suchitra, Prabhat, Roopavani and Jyothi remained shut, much to the disappointment of movie-goers. However, Big Cinemas at Bharath Mall remained open as usual.

At the same time, movie producers, distributors, exhibitors, directors, artistes, members of workers, artistes, and technicians unions, cinematographers, editors, and all other people associated with filmdom will be on protest strike today, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce said. 

On behalf of Kannada cinema industry, a memorandum is being submitted to the state Governor today, demanding withdrawal of service tax proposal. A procession is being led from the office of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to Raj Bhavan, in which high and mighty from the industry are participating. A memorandum will be submitted to the union government at the end, through the state Governor.

The leaders of various cinema related unions and exhibitors had met finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee last week, requesting him to take back the proposal to levy service tax of 10.3 percent on film industry. Following the meeting, Bollywood called off the strike, but theatres in states across the nation decided to support FFI.