The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : `Munnabhai' yet to get entertainment tax exemption

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 25, 2006
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

`Munnabhai' yet to get entertainment tax exemption

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: Almost three weeks after the Government announced waiver of entertainment tax for Lage Raho Munnabhai in the State, orders have not yet been issued so far.

By the time the orders are published in the gazette in a fortnight or so, the movie could stop in city theatres.

Only two cinema theatres in Hyderabad -- Prasads and Venkatramana in Kacheguda -- are screening the movie.

While Prasads multiplex is exempted from paying the entertainment tax component to the Government, tickets at Venkatramana are being sold sans any concession.

A ticket in Prasads is Rs. 60 while at Venkatramana a balcony ticket costs Rs. 35. After tax waiver, the price will hover between Rs. 24 to Rs. 26. Presently, 20 per cent Entertainment Tax per ticket is paid to the Government on Hindi movies.

"We are waiting for orders. It's been over 20 days since the announcement was made but till now we have not received any orders," informed Manager for Venkatramana P. Kodandam.

Even the distributor of Lage Raho Munnabhai from Sahyaog Films is as clueless as the exhibitors. "We had received a letter from Revenue Department about the proposal for tax waiver. In fact, we organised a special screening of the movie for a committee from Film Development Corporation. We haven't heard from them so far," said Vinayak Bhoomkar from Sahyog Films.

Commercial Taxes department officials say the file is "under process."

"It may take another week or ten days for the order to be published in the gazette. We have to send the file to the minister and then the order would be issued," an official said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh