LBET strike: Solo set for release even as Producers' Council declare theatre blackout

Even as one of the most powerful bodies of the Tamil film industry, Tamil Film Producers' Council, made it clear that no new Tamil films would hit the screens starting this Friday, director Bejoy Nambiar has announced that his film, Solo, will indeed be released in Tamil tomorrow, 5 October.

Nambiar is probably riding on the fact that his film is due to be released on Thursday and the Producers' Council's ban begins on Friday.

It all began with the Tamil Nadu government issuing a circular levying an additional Local Body Entertainment Tax (LBET) of 10% on Tamil films and 20% on all other language films releasing in Chennai. This LBET, the state government said, would have to be paid over the GST (Goods and Services Tax) of 28% that the theatre owners and exhibitors are already paying.

To protest against the LBET, members of the Multiplex Association of India have already announced a strike at the multiplexes in Chennai, including INOX and PVR. The Producers' Council soon joined in and announced that no Tamil films in Chennai will see the light of the day starting Friday, until the LBET is revoked

As a result, around nine films including Bejoy Nambiar's Solo and Meera Kathiravan's Vizhithiru that were scheduled to be released this week, were in a fix.

However, Nambiar took to Twitter to announce that his film, Solo, featuring Dulquer Salman in the lead, will be released in Tamil tomorrow, 5 October. He tweeted, "WE ARE RELEASING in TAMIL ! #SOLOsolovaVarudhu #SOLOfromOct5."

It remains to be seen if the other producers who had films lined up for release this week will follow suit.