Theatres strike called off, cinema halls reopen with costlier tickets

Theatre owners in Tamil Nadu have called off their indefinite strike over a 30 per cent municipal tax on movie tickets introduced after the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was launched.

Movie tickets in Tamil Nadu, which are among the lowest in the country with an upper limit of Rs 120, are going to become slightly more expensive.

"The government has told us that it will form a committee with eight people from our (theatre owners) side and eight people from the government's side, which will discuss whether there should be a corporation tax at all, and if so, how much," Theatre Owners Asssociation president Abirami Ramanathan said.

As many as 1,100 theatres across Tamil Nadu have been shut since Monday after the owners called for an indefinite strike to protest the state’s imposition of a 30 per cent entertainment tax in addition to the 28 per cent Goods and Sevices Tax (GST).

Superstar Rajinikanth had also requested the state government to reconsider the 30 per cent municipal tax, a move that was backed by fellow actor Kamal Haasan.

"Keeping in mind the livelihood of lakhs of people in the Tamil film industry, I sincerely request the Tamil Nadu government to seriously consider our plea," he tweeted.

PETA moves Supreme Court against jallikattu

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of recent amendments in the law to allow "cruel and torturous" practise of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.

PETA, in its fresh plea has challenged the constitutional validity of the recent amendments made by Tamil Nadu Assembly in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act 2017, that had led to the conduct of the bull-taming sport in the state earlier this year.

Meanwhile, organisers of jallikattu in Avaniapuram, Palamedu and Alanganallur, the three places renowned for the sport in Madurai district, have denied the claims of animal torture made by People for Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) India in its petition filed at the Supreme Court on Thursday challenging the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017.

The petition was filed with videographic evidence reportedly showing the torture the bulls underwent during jallikattu in five places in February, which included Thirunallur in Pudukottai district and Maravapatti in Dindigul district, apart from the three places in Madurai district.

J Sundarrajan, president of the jallikattu organising committee in Alanganallur, said the regulations enforced this year were unforeseen.

The PETA plea said the Act was a welfare legislation and "hence overrides any so-called traditional and cultural practices that perpetuate cruelty". The Supreme Court had earlier struck down the practise of Jallikattu terming it as "illegal and unconstitutional".

Function of police dept becomes debate between ruling, oppn

Deputy leader of opposition S Duraimurugan (DMK) refused to begin the debate on the home department in the Assembly on Thursday unless senior police officials turned up for the session.

"Where is DGP? Where is commissioner of police? I will speak only if they turn up in the House," Duraimurugan said, prompting home secretary Niranjan Mardi to rush out to bring the police officers.

DGP (law and order) T K Rajendran and DGP (fire and rescue services) S George rushed in within minutes.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Thursday said over 1,000 people have been questioned in connection with the death of KN Ramajeyam, brother of DMK leader and former Minister KN Nehru.

Two persons "close" to the deceased realtor-businessmen have also undergone polygraph test, he said.

He also explained the progress in the 'suicide case' of police officer Vishnu Priya. Responding to DMK charges, Palaniswami said the crime rate in TN was much lower compared to other states.

He said crime rate was high during the previous DMK regime too. On Ramajayam murder, the CM said that 1,100 people had been questioned and the government was awaiting a court order for CBI inquiry.

Lyca to convert maximum cinema screens into 3D for Rajini's 2.0

The team of Superstar Rajinikanth's upcoming Tamil science-fiction action drama 2.0 is hopeful of converting as many screens as possible into 3D for the release of the film.

This was said by Raju Mahalingam, creative head of Lyca Productions, at a workshop in Chennai on Wednesday. 2.0 directed by Shankar, a sequel to Rajinikanth's 2010 Tamil blockbuster Enthiran, has been completely shot in 3D.

"The film has been shot in 3D, and on a budget of Rs 400 crore. As of now we have only 1,500 3D screens in India as opposed to over 10,000 in China. We hope to have more screens converted into 3D and ready for the release of 2.0," Raju said.

Distributor Tirupur Subramaniam also hoped to have over 300 screens converted into 3D for the release of the film.

"Theatre owners are kicked about 2.0. We hope to have over 300 screens converted into 3D for the release of the film. As a Tamilian, I really wish the film does more business than Baahubali 2," said Subramaniam.

Slated for release next year in January, 2.0 is directed by Shankar, who has teamed up with Rajinikanth for the third time. The film will also be released in Telugu and Hindi.

Theatres strike enters 4th day, Kamal thanks Rajini for tweet

Strike by around 1100 cinema theatres in Tamil Nadu entered fourth day today, with Abirami Ramanathan, President of Tamil Nadu Film Chamber of Commerce, expressing hope that a positive outcome can be expected soon.

The ongoing protest is against double taxation on film tickets, as the Tamil Nadu government has levied 30 per cent more tax in addition to Goods and Services Tax.

Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan has expressed gratitude to Superstar Rajinikanth for his tweet urging Tamil Nadu government to withdraw the local tax.

"Thanks Rajni avaragaLay for voicing your concern. Lets request first as gentlemen should. Then we shall see. @superstarrajini & TN .Govt," the Ulaga Nayagan said in his tweet.

On Wednesday, in a tweet from the United States, the top actor has urged the state government to withdraw the additional tax, which has affected the industry.

"Keeping in mind the livelihood of Lakhs of people in the tamil film industry, I sincerely request the TN GOVT to seriously consider our plea," he posted.

TN govt proposes new housing policy

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday proposed a new housing policy that will include a series of changes like reducing the cost of construction.

Highlights of the policy include promoting standard urbanisation, ensuring provision of all basic amenities, developing infrastructure, amending master plans and development control rules and fixing time frames for building approval, among others.

The policy, that will focus on low income groups, will help bring down housing cost, provide space for affordable housing, ensure basic infrastructure and amenities, upgrade urban infrastructure and create sustainable cities. Regulations, including master plan and development control rules, will be amended to ensure time-bound, single-window clearances.

Making a suo motu statement in the state assembly, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said the government will formulate a housing and residential policy and its features would include bringing down cost of construction and ensuring adequate housing facilities for economically weaker sections, among others.

The Tamil Nadu Housing Board will use funds under the Transferable Development Rights and the government’s funding to build 6,874 houses at an estimated cost of ₹676 crore in Ernavur, North Chennai.

The chief minister also announced construction of nearly 1.87 lakh houses under different schemes including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

Tamilisai asks visitors to give money instead of shawls, garlands

With a view to help others, BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan has asked people visiting her to give money, instead of shawls and garlands.

"A small help to Durai for his sons education i appreciate him inspite of disability working hard to educate him," she said in a tweet, in which she uploaded a picture of her presenting financial aid to one Durai.

She added: "Responding my appeal since one year to replace shalve with affordable contribution i could help some needy who come to Kamalalayam for help."

She said further: "We havehelped 6collegestudents24 school students 5 to start small business (tailoring ,iron) One for sports 7cyclesnot propagated so far. now tweeted as everyday people come for help assessing the situation we help i hand over what ever i get to office sec&distribute thr'him."

In spite of request some friends continue to show their affection with shalves &garlands kindly view the above tweets ,you may help a needy, she concluded.

Meanwhile at Kamalalayam, the head office of BJP in T Nagar recently, Tamilisai Soundararajan held a meeting to spread awareness on GST.

With regards to the awareness programme, she introduced a web portal service on GST and also an app about the presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind. The state vice president P.T Arasakumar and secretary Karu Naagarajan were also present in the event.