Breaking his silence on the ongoing cinema theatre shutdown in Tamil Nadu,veteran actor Rajinikanth took to Twitter on Wednesday and appealed to the state government to consider their plea.
"Keeping in mind the livelihood of Lakhs of people in the tamil film industry, I sincerely request the TN GOVT to seriously consider our plea,"(sic), Rajini tweeted.
The theatres have been shut, as a mark of protest against the government's decision to levy 30% entertainment tax over the newly implemented GST, which puts them in the 28% tax slab.
Keeping in mind the livelihood of Lakhs of people in the tamil film industry, I sincerely request the TN GOVT to seriously consider our plea
— Rajinikanth (@superstarrajini) July 4, 2017
Actor Kamal Haasan went on to reply to the Superstar's tweet and thanked him for expressing his concern. The actor further said that industry will first wait to see if the Government heeds to its requests.
Thanks Rajni avaragaLay for voicing your concern. Lets request first as gentlemen should. Then we shall see. @superstarrajini & TN .Govt.
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) July 5, 2017
Addressing media persons in Chennai on Monday, Kamal had said, "The entire industry is gathering together and we shall speak as one voice soon."
Earlier, actor Siddharth hit out at both the state and the centre for the confusion caused by GST, and also pinned the blame on the Tamil Nadu government for punishing Tamil cinema for years, by fostering a culture of bribes.
Though the Goods and Services Tax came into effect from July 1, the protests have been ongoing even before its implementation.
Many theatre owners and producers have lashed out against the 'double tax' that was being levied.
In June, President of the Tamil Nadu Film Chamber of Commerce, Abirami Ramanathan, asked the state to follow the tax slab being implemented by other southern states.
For perspective, a Rs 100 ticket in the neighbouring states (Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka) would cost Rs 118 post-GST. However, in Tamil Nadu, the double tax would make result in the same ticket, costing Rs 148.