Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today (Sep 27, 2004) announced a slew of concessions for the Tamil Film Industry, including bringing video piracy under the purview of the Goondas act and reducing entertainment tax.

In a statement in Chennai, she said the Goondas act would be amended to include "video pirates" under the act, which would have a deterrent effect on video piracy.

Justifying her decision to bring video pirates under the purview of Goondas act, she said, "Video piracy is disturbing public order and causing loss of revenue to the Government. Organised groups of anti-social elements, indulging in video piracy, use the proceeds to fund other anti-social activities."

She also said that the copyright act would be implemented strictly so that the video pirates would be punished with imprisonment ranging from six months to two years, along with a fine ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs two lakh.

Six more anti-video piracy cells would be created in the State police department in addition to the six already functioning.

Entertainment tax rates, which were 25 per cent for new films and 20 per cent for old films in urban areas, would be reduced to 15 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

A flat 10 per cent entertainment tax would replace the present complex compounding system in rural areas, she said.

The representatives of the Tamil film industry had met her on Sep 23, 2004 demanding several concessions to revive the film industry.