Goa Looks at Offering Tax Reimbursement to Filmmakers 

Pics by Applied Art
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Nov 25 (IANS): Barely two days after veteran Bollywood filmmaker Yash Chopra gave a tongue-lashing to the Goa and central governments for imposing new taxes on the film industry, an embarrassed state government has taken cue.

"We are considering offering tax reimbursement to the filmmakers who are keen on shooting in Goa," chief executive officer of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) Manoj Srivastava said Wednesday.

Producer of Kahwa Entertainment, Sanjay Suri seen during the Knowledge Series at the Film Bazaar on the third day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Wednesday.

The busy Film Bazaar zone.

Goa Police Service officer seen waiting to get into the screening theatre along with the delegates during the screening of '3 Idiots' on the third day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Wednesday.

The busy Inox multiplex on the third day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Wednesday.

Director of '3 Idiots' Rajkumar Hirani seen addressing the full house along with lyricist Swanand Kirkire , screenplay writer Abhijat Joshi and others during the screening of their film '3 Idiots' in the Indian Panorama section in Panaji on Wednesday.

Delegation from the Georgian Film Industry seen addressing a press conference at the Media Centre on the third day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Wednesday.

Bollywood actress Riya Sen seen during the interaction session with the media minutes after the Indian Premier of her Bengali film 'Nauka Doobi' at Kala Academy in Panaji on Wednesday.

The picture conference organised by the confederation of the Indian Industries on the third day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Wednesday.

Chief minister Digambar Kamat seen felicitating legendary Kathak dancer Sitara Devi during the inaugural ceremony of the documentary festival 'Dancing Feet' at the Black Box in Kala Academy on the third day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Wednesday.

The official was speaking at a seminar on film trade on the sidelines of the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) being held here.

"We are looking at returning the tax amount back to the filmmaker after he produces proper bills for the amount spent while shooting in Goa," he said.

"I am echoing the sentiments of Yash Chopra who has also expressed a need for relaxation of taxes," Srivastava said.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the IFFI in Panaji Monday, Chopra said the state was meting out step-motherly treatment to filmmakers.

"Why is the government treating us in a step-motherly manner? If these new taxes come, I am sure they will come because they have made up their mind, filmmakers will not be able to make movies anymore," he said.

"India celebrates 100 years of cinema in 2012 and maybe they will be writing the obituary of Indian cinema then," the Dadasaheb Phalke award winner added.