Panel to select films for ET exemption

The Tamil Nadu Government has constituted a committee with 22 members drawn from the film industry to select films eligible for exemption from entertainment tax.

The 22 non-official members include film directors, veteran actors, producers, music directors and playback singers.

Four of these members will join, on a rotation basis, three officials to form a seven-member committee that will view films and recommend tax exemption, according to an official press release. Of the four non-official members, two should be women.

The members from the film industry are: directors A. Jagannathan, R.V. Udhayakumar, C.V. Rajendran and P. Vasu; producers K.T. Kunjumon and R.B. Chowdhry; veteran actors M.N. Rajam, Rajashri, V.S. Raghavan, S.N. Lakshmi, Sowcar Janaki and Rajasulochana; actor Senthil; cinematographers Varma and Babu; singers A.L. Raghavan, Vani Jayaram, K.S. Chitra; music director Ganesh and journalist Ramji.

The three official members on the panel are the Secretary, Commercial Taxes and Registration or his nominee, the Secretary, Tamil Development, Charitable Endowments and Information or his nominee; and the Director, Tamil Development department.

Producers seeking exemption should apply directly to the Commercial Taxes Commissioner along with a fee of Rs.10,000.

The release says at least two official and two non-official members should view each film.