Kerala to curb drug abuse on film sets

AM Abdussalam

In view of the allegations of wide spread use of drugs on film shooting sets, the state government has prepared a comprehensive draft law for the film industry  to curb unhealthy practices, including use of drugs on movie sets, according to Minister for Law, AK Balan.

“The government is ready to intervene and has already drafted a comprehensive law to curb the alleged immoral activities in the industry like use of drugs,” the minister said while addressing media persons after a meeting with the Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA). The meeting was convened as instructed by the chief minister, Balan said.

  While announcing its decision not to cooperate with young actor Shane Nigam who allegedly violated certain agreements with the producers of his upcoming films, KFPA had alleged that several new generation actors were using high-end drugs in movie sets.

 On November 27, KFPA had banned Nigam from all their movies, alleging that producers of two films ‘Veyil’ and ‘Kurbani’ could not complete their projects due to the actor’s non-cooperation. “We want Shane to complete the movies he had committed to. We have not banned anyone from the movies. We will discuss his matter with AMMA,” KFPA office bearer Ranjith told media persons.

  The 23-year-old actor violated the informal agreement he had reached with the producer of “Veyil” by changing his hairstyle and shaving his beard, KFPA alleged. Nigam, son of late mimicry artiste Aby, was supposed to complete the work of ‘Veyil’ in which he sports a different look with long hair and beard.

  The high-level meeting with the minister also discussed the issue of film producers association deciding not to release films in state-run Kerala State Film Development Corporation theatres, protesting against the hike in entertainment tax.

  Minister for Finance Thomas Issac, who also took part in the meeting, said the associations have decided to withdraw their stir.

“It is totally an unwanted protest to boycott KSFDC theatres. The GST in the film industry was determined as 18 per cent and 28 per cent which all organisations had welcomed. But the GST council decided to reduce it. Now they have given a memorandum, which will be considered. They have decided to withdraw the strike,” Isaac said.

  When the GST came into effect in 2017, state government had scrapped the entertainment tax. In January 2019, the finance minister had reintroduced a 10 per cent entertainment tax, named Local Body Entertainment Tax, leading to protests from the film industry. Balan said the film association had earlier decided not to screen movies in the 17 KSFDC run theatres.