Chennai, Sept 28:
The Tamil Nadu government is working on a series of measures to make it easier for film producers to obtain shooting permissions, while also exploring the creation of a dedicated government OTT platform for Tamil films. Minister A. Rajmohan announced the initiatives at the sixth general body meeting of the Tamil Film Active Producers Association held in Vadapalani.
Under the proposed system, film producers will be able to submit shooting details and apply for the required permissions online instead of making repeated visits to the Secretariat. The system is expected to use an automated approval process after the required details are submitted, with the aim of reducing procedural delays and making permissions more convenient for the industry.
The move follows a long-standing demand from producers for a single-window mechanism for obtaining permission to shoot at government-owned locations. The proposed online system is intended to reduce the need for producers and production teams to make separate in-person visits and simplify the administrative process involved in film production.
Rajmohan also said the government was examining the possibility of establishing a dedicated OTT platform for Tamil films. He said a positive announcement on the government OTT platform could be expected shortly and indicated that discussions would be held with stakeholders from the film industry.
The Minister said the proposed OTT initiative would particularly benefit smaller Tamil films by providing them with an additional avenue to reach audiences. He said the government would give importance to small-budget productions and that a three-way discussion involving the relevant stakeholders would be held on the proposal. He added that discussions on the matter would take place after the by-election.
The producers’ association had included the creation of a separate OTT platform for small-investment Tamil films among its demands submitted to the Minister. The objective is to provide such films with a dedicated digital avenue and help take them to viewers beyond the conventional theatrical release system.
Several other demands concerning the film industry were also placed before the Minister. These included removal of the four per cent local-body entertainment tax, disbursement of pending subsidies for small-investment films and an increase in the existing subsidy from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
The government also indicated that Tamil Nadu government film awards would henceforth be presented every year. Rajmohan said the government was giving special attention to the film industry and noted that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay himself had come from the cinema field.