Thiruvananthapuram, 2 June 2026: Cultural Affairs aur Tourism Minister P. C. Vishnunadh ne Tuesday ko Malayalam film industry ke key stakeholders ke saath ek high-level meeting ki. Is meeting mein movie tickets par “double taxation”, industry status aur anti-piracy measures jaise urgent issues par charcha hui. Thiruvananthapuram mein hui is meeting mein various film bodies ke representatives ne apne concerns aur demands Minister ke saamne rakhe.
Sabse zyada urgent issue tha movie tickets par “double taxation” — ek problem jo pehle bhi industry ke protests ka kaaran bani hai, including film shoots ko temporarily suspend karna is saal ki shuruwat mein. Local bodies dwara films par lagaya jaane wala entertainment tax industry ka ek lambi samay se grievance raha hai. Minister Vishnunadh ne is issue ki gahraai ko samajha, lekin yeh clarify kiya ki entertainment tax Finance aur Local Self-Government departments ke jurisdiction mein aata hai, isliye koi final decision turant nahi liya ja sakta. Unhone yeh bhi kaha ki state ke financial situation ko dhyaan mein rakhkar hi koi step liya jaayega.
Film bodies ne ek aur important demand rakhi — Malayalam film industry ko “industry status” dena. Agar yeh status milta hai, toh industry ko various concessions aur financial incentives mil sakte hain. Minister ne assurance diya ki government is demand ko aur bhi recommendations ke saath examine karegi. Saath hi, film bodies ne film shooting clearances ke liye single-window system implement karne ki bhi maang ki, jise government consider karne ko ready hai.
Piracy par control paane ke liye, jo latest Malayalam films ko bhi affect kar rahi hai, Minister ne announce kiya ki anti-piracy enforcement cell offices Kochi aur Malabar zones mein bhi kholen jayenge. Abhi sirf Thiruvananthapuram mein hi ek aisa office hai. Is expansion se state bhar mein anti-piracy efforts strong honge aur intellectual property ko better protection milegi.
AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) ke andar chal rahi internal controversies ke baare mein poochne par Minister Vishnunadh ne kaha ki AMMA ke representatives ne government ko assure kiya hai ki wo apne internal issues khud resolve kar lenge. Lekin unhone yeh bhi add kiya ki agar zaroorat padi toh government intervene kar sakti hai taaki organization mein shanti aur order maintain rahe.
Minister ne yeh bhi kaha ki wo abhi tak previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government ki taiyaar ki gayi film policy ko fully review nahi kar paaye hain. Lekin unhone assurance diya ki government is policy ke recommendations ko examine karegi aur jahan feasible ho, implement karne par soch rahi hai.
Film shooting logistics ke concerns par Minister ne kaha ki filmmakers ko government properties use karne par zyada rent pay karna padta hai. Unhone assure kiya ki government tourism destinations ko film-friendly banayegi aur local filmmakers ko international production houses ke saath collaborate karne mein help karegi. Government ka goal Kerala mein film production ke liye aur conducive environment banana hai.
Meeting ke end par Minister ne government ke commitment ko zabaan di ki wo Malayalam film industry ke urgent needs ko address karenge, lekin state ke financial constraints ko bhi dhyaan mein rakhenge. Industry stakeholders ne government ke dialogue aur long-standing issues ke solutions ke liye willingness par satisfaction zahaar ki.
