Home / Arts and Entertainment / Kamal Haasan Pitches State-Owned Tamil OTT Platform
Kamal Haasan Pitches State-Owned Tamil OTT Platform
16 May
Summary
- Urges government to create a state-owned OTT platform for Tamil content.
- Requests mandatory 8-week OTT window for films and abolition of local tax.
- Calls for dedicated anti-piracy team and increased film shows per day.
Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan submitted two memorandums to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, advocating for significant support for the Tamil film industry. He proposed the creation of a state-owned Over-The-Top (OTT) platform to provide Tamil films, independent movies, and documentaries at subsidized rates for the local audience.
Haasan also suggested a mandatory 8-week window for films to be available on OTT platforms after their theatrical release. This move aims to aid theatre owners and distributors. He further requested the abolition of the 4% local body entertainment tax, citing rising operational costs for production, distribution, and theatre management.
To combat piracy, Haasan called for a dedicated enforcement team within the Tamil Nadu police's cybercrime department. He also advocated for allowing five shows daily in theaters to boost revenue and support the exhibition sector's recovery. Furthermore, he proposed production incentives for films shooting over 50% of their content in Tamil Nadu.
In separate proposals, Haasan urged the government to eliminate manual scavenging through robotics and suggested a scheme for local bodies, philanthropists, and private individuals to build and maintain libraries and skill development centers via CSR partnerships.
