CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Sunday announced reduction in rent for filming movies in Rajaji Hall and other sought after locales owned by the Government.

Addressing a function organised by the Federation of Small Screen Technicians (FESST) to felicitate him, Mr. Karunanidhi recalled that the rent for filming in Rajaji Hall was increased in 2003 from Rs. 1,000 a day to Rs. 1 lakh by the AIADMK Government. After the 2004 elections, it was reduced to Rs. 25,000. "This is now being reduced to Rs. 10,000 per day. I signed the order at 4 p.m. today."

For filming in Type 1 locales the rate had been reduced from Rs. 10,000 a day to Rs. 5,000 and for Type 2 locales owned by the Government, the rate had been slashed from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 3,000.

These rates were for filming a movie. For television, the Chief Minister announced that the rates would be half of what was applicable for filming a cinema. The other demands of the trade also would be considered in due course of time.

Mr. Karunanidhi said a statue of actor Sivaji Ganesan was getting ready and would be installed at a prominent place in the city in the next 20-25 days. Many people had been saying that they would install a statue but nothing had happened in the five years since the death of the actor.

FESST president Viduthalai requested the Chief Minister to allot land for construction of the federation office. He said technicians and artists were low wage earners and wanted Mr. Karunanidhi to allot plots for them to build houses.

Promises being fulfilled

Information and Publicity Minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi said the DMK Government was in the process of fulfilling all election promises.

Producers AVM Saravanan, K. Balachander and T.G. Thiagarajan, FESST joint secretary S.S. Vasanth, actors Sivakumar and Bagyaraj spoke. FESST office-bearers presented a plasma television set to Mr. Karunanidhi.

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