State OTT & eight-week windows: Kamal Haasan urges CM Vijay to regulate digital cinema

CHENNAI: Actor-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan met with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Saturday to submit a comprehensive six-point memorandum aimed at revitalising the state's film industry.

A cornerstone of Kamal Haasan's proposals is the launch of a state-owned Over-The-Top (OTT) platform. The veteran actor envisioned this digital space as a subsidised, low-cost streaming service for the general public, specifically designed to promote mainstream Tamil cinema, independent projects, and documentaries.

To alleviate the financial strain currently crippling the sector, Kamal Haasan urged the government to grant tax concessions to offset skyrocketing production, distribution, and theatre maintenance costs. A key fiscal recommendation in the memorandum includes the immediate abolition of the 4% entertainment tax currently levied by local self-government bodies.

The MNM chief also addressed structural and operational challenges, calling for the establishment of a specialised anti-piracy enforcement team under the Tamil Nadu Police Cyber Crime wing to combat digital piracy. Furthermore, to safeguard the interests of theatre owners and distributors, he proposed allowing cinemas statewide to screen five shows daily, while enforcing a mandatory eight-week theatrical window before any movie transitions to digital platforms.

Beyond immediate operational relief, Kamal Haasan urged Chief Minister Vijay to introduce a robust film production incentive scheme. This forward-looking policy aims to establish Tamil Nadu as the nation's premier filmmaking destination, while simultaneously stimulating tourism and generating significant employment opportunities across the state.