On the occasion of Vijayadashami, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced that Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana has been declared tax-free in the state.
Making a film tax-free usually results in ticket prices coming down, enabling more people to watch it. With Ramayana declared tax-free in West Bengal, the state’s share of GST (SGST) will be waived, while the central government’s share (CGST) remains in place.
In simple terms, the state government won’t collect its share of the tax on tickets. There is no direct benefit to the producer, but this could help the film increase its footfalls, ultimately resulting in higher revenue. Trade experts believe more states might follow suit for Ramayana.