Kamal Haasan Calls for State-Owned OTT Platform in Tamil Nadu

Kamal Haasan, the actor-turned-politician, has approached Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay with a memorandum containing six demands to bolster the Tamil film industry. A significant proposal is the launch of a state-owned over-the-top (OTT) platform to facilitate affordable access to Tamil cinema and documentaries.

Haasan, leading the Makkal Needhi Maiam party allied with the ruling DMK, highlighted the spiralling costs in production and distribution. He called for the abolition of a 4% local body entertainment tax, which aims to alleviate the financial burden on the industry, and urged the formation of an anti-piracy unit within the Tamil Nadu police to protect the creative works of artists and producers.

The memorandum also seeks permission for theatres to screen additional shows and suggests implementing an eight-week OTT release window to sustain theatres. Haasan advocates for a film production incentive to rejuvenate Tamil Nadu as a leading hub for film production, potentially boosting employment and tourism.

(With inputs from agencies.)