The State government, during the rule of S M Krishna, had lifted tax exemption to remake movies with effect from April 1, 2002. Remake movies were not eligible to get either State awards or subsidy. Only movies remade 10 years after the original film was released or those won national and state best film awards were eligible to get tax exemption benefit. The rest were levied 30 per cent of entertainment tax on the admission rate.

Y K Muddukrishna, chairman of the committee set up by the state government to monitor remake films, said film makers are clever to claim tax exemption by making small changes in the original story. Newspaper hawker in the original movie is converted into a shoe polisher or carpenter. Though they claim they take only story from the original, there are instances where a few long shots of the original movies are taken as they were.

“Remake film makers argue that they give employment to local talents. But in most cases it is not true. They use original music track. They copy the original movie frame-to-frame. For what such films should be given the tax exemption,” Muddukrishna asked.

Going by the chief minister’s statement in his budget document the state government has proposed to exempt the tax on all films in order to avoid confusion over remake films.  A member in the Remake Monitoring Committee said, “The government’s statement shows that it is inefficient to formulate guidelines to classify remake films.”

Proposal welcomed

However, many directors have welcomed the proposal. They argue that making a movie paying 30 per cent of entertainment tax is highly impossible. Only a handful of remake Kannada films are released in a year. Let they too enjoy the benefit. Moreover, such productions will contribute to the growth of the industry.
A few of them commented that Kannada film industry would be benefited if remake film makers recreate the original movie instead of copying it frame to frame.

COMMITTEE JOBLESS

Bangalore, DHNS: The State government has set up a committee to monitor remake Kannada movies. The committee’s task was to select movies which are eligible for tax exemption. After the government came out with the proposal to extend tax exemption, the fate of remake films as well as the future of the committee is not known.
Committee chairman Y K Muddukrishna said “I am not aware what the government will do with the committee. The state government has proposed tax exemption to remake films. However, as of now remake films are not eligible for state awards. The committee may be asked to monitor remake films which seek awards.”

WHAT THEY SAY...

Remake culture cannot be curbed by levying entertainment tax. All these days remake movies enjoyed tax exemption by making false claims. There are loopholes in the system itself. With minor changes here and there producer of a remake movie can avail himself tax benefit. Kannada viewers should teach a lesson to remake movie producers by rejecting such movies.

- S V Rajendra Singh Babu, film maker

One good thing about this decision is that many more Kannada films will be produced. But the question is how far the director of a remake movie uses his creative talent to bring in a non-Kannada movie to Kannada environment. If a director takes a story or gets inspired by a concept adopted in a non-Kannada movie then there is no problem. But he should use local talent, actors and environment to make the movie native. Of course, creative talents will continue to do creative job.

- Ramesh Aravind, actor & film maker

I have a strong opposition for tax exemption to remake films. Remake film makers bring in culture which is alien to Kannada environment. This move will promote more film makers to go for remaking. This is a bad development.

-Y K Muddukrishna, Chairman, Remake Film Monitoring Committee

I welcome the move. On an average 8 to 10 remake films are made in a year. Only those who do not get original scripts go for non-Kannada scripts. Moreover, they are also part of the industry. They make use of local artistes and technicians. No producer can make movies by paying 30 per cent entertainment tax.

-Rockline Venkatesh, Producer & actor