Andhr Pradesh - Chief Minister promises to slash VAT
“No one can predict winners in films and politics,” said
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy at the state Nandi
Awards function at the Lalitha Kala Thoranamon on
Friday. “In both, films and elections, even pundits find
it difficult to predict which film will be a hit and
which candidate will win, since there is no set formula
for success,” he said. Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy promised to
look into the abolition of the five per cent VAT and
said that he has already instructed his officials to
look into the matter. “We’ll take a decision soon,” he
added.
Honouring the Telugu film
fraternity, the CM said that cinema could influence society, so more good films
should be made. Balakrishna, who bagged the “Best Actor” award for Simha for
2010 said, “It’s my second Nandi award and I cherish it.” Nitya Menon, who
received the “Best Actress” award for her Ala Modalaiyindi for 2010 rem-arked,
“It’s special for me.”
After receiving the award for his performance in Mestry for 2009, veteran
filmmaker Dasari Naray-ana Rao sarcastically said, “I don’t ask for favours from
the government for the sake of my sons or brother-in-laws, but the film industry
is going through a bad phase, so please abolish VAT to save us from the extra
burden.” He also urged the government to sanction a subsidy for housing for
low-end cine workers, reminding that late YSR had sanctioned Rs 12 crore for
them. The function had a distinct Telangana touch this time, since the
entertainment programmes included a lengthy collage of folk songs, skits, bonalu
and holi celebrations along with music and dance programmes.
