Sandalwood welcomes Union Budget 2019

Sandalwood wholeheartedly welcomed the Union government's Interim Budget presented by Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday. The minister announced a single window system to clear approvals for shooting and an anti-camcording provision in the Cinematograph Act, 1952 to combat film piracy.

"I wholeheartedly welcome the single window clearance for Indian filmmakers. Because I have a bad experience of running from pillar to post, especially when I was shooting Amruthadhare, which was shot in most of the states in the country. So I think this will make the atmosphere friendlier for us to work," ace moviemaker Nagathihalli Chandrashekar told DH.

Terming the anti-camcording provision as a victory against piracy, former Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) president and filmmaker Sa Ra Govindu said, "This was our long pending demand. Finally, the government has acknowledged it and understood the seriousness of piracy in the film industry. Meanwhile, we also request governments to book the culprits under 'Goonda Act'." However, filmmakers expressed unhappiness over 18% GST on entertainment tax and expected that to be regulated in the budget.

Producer Rockline Venkatesh said, "Those two are a welcome moves, but the government would have reduced GST on entertainment tax. By keeping Bollywood in the mind, the government has fixed 18%, it should also think after the industries which have small markets like Kannada, Malayalam and small budget films made in Tulu and Konkani too. I have a experience of producing movies in Tamil and Bollywood."