Hindi
Give industry status to film distribution, exhibition biz: Assocham
NEW DELHI: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) feels that the government should exempt the transactions between film producers and distributors and those between distributors and exhibitors from service tax as the sector is already burdened with various types of taxes.
Furthermore, the levy of Value Added Tax (VAT) by the state governments at the instance of the central government should be scrapped.
Assocham said the guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India on 14 May 2001 pursuant to the grant of industry status to the film industry on 16 October 2000 had completely ignored the distribution and exhibition sectors and, therefore, bank finance was being made available only to the production sector. Although organisations of the film industry had appealed for removal of this anomaly from time to time, the government had not paid heed.
There was need for encouraging flow of special funds from government and the corporate sector to provide support to eminent film makers for development of regional culture. Grants from central government should be given to encourage regional films.
In the wake of amendments in the Finance Act 2007, service tax had been made applicable in case of renting/leasing, letting immovable property which includes theatres, exhibition halls and multiple use buildings with the result that the Central Excise Departments issued notices for recovery of service tax.
The VAT rates imposed at the instance of the centre differ from State to State from 4 per cent to 12 per cent. “The irony of this tax is that it cannot be passed on to the last person i.e. the cinegoer with the result that it ends at the distributor who even after making huge investment in buying the film is unsure as to whether he would be able to recover his investment and over and above he has to pay VAT despite his film flops. The Film Distribution is an unpredictable business and is the only segment where a purchaser is given guarantee of a product without actually verifying its contents.
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
