Today (May 16, 2026), actor-politician Kamal Haasan met newly sworn-in Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at his Neelankarai residence in Chennai.
Kamal Haasan congratulated CM Vijay on forming the government and personally handed over a memorandum containing six important demands to strengthen and support the Tamil film industry, which is facing rising costs, piracy, and other challenges. He also gifted the book ‘Gandhi Before India’ by historian Ramachandra Guha.
Kamal Haasan later shared photos from the meeting and stated that the Tamil Nadu government’s support and warmth are essential for the survival and growth of Tamil cinema.
Here are the 6 requests submitted by Kamal Haasan to CM Vijay :
1.Launch of Tamil Nadu Government OTT Platform
A state-owned OTT platform where Tamil audiences can watch Tamil cinema, independent films, and documentaries at affordable and subsidized rates.
2.Abolition of Local Body Entertainment Tax
Complete removal of the 4% Local Body Entertainment Tax to ease the burden on producers, distributors, and theatre owners amid rising costs.
3.Formation of a Strong Anti-Piracy Team
Create a dedicated anti-piracy enforcement unit within the Tamil Nadu Police Cyber Crime Department with powers for real-time takedowns of pirated content.
4.Permission for 5 Shows per Day
Allow theatres across Tamil Nadu to screen 5 shows per day for all films to boost theatre revenues and help the exhibition sector recover.
5.Mandatory 8-Week OTT Window
Make an 8-week theatrical-to-OTT release window mandatory for all films released in Tamil Nadu to protect theatre owners and distributors.
6.Film Production Incentive Scheme
Introduce a production incentive of up to 10% of the budget for Indian films that shoot more than 50% of their scenes in Tamil Nadu. This will bring back Tamil Nadu as India’s top film production hub, create jobs, and boost tourism.
Kamal Haasan described the meeting as warm and positive. He praised CM Vijay’s humility and vision, saying it is a matter of pride for the Tamil film industry that a star from cinema has become the Chief Minister.
This meeting is being widely seen as a strong signal of support from the film fraternity to the new government. The Tamil cinema industry and fans are hopeful that CM Vijay will give positive consideration to these requests.
