Gethu' gets tax exemption

Chennai: Holding that “Gethu” is a Tamil word, the Madras high court on Friday directed the State government to grant exemption from entertainment tax for Tamil movie “Gethu”, starring Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of DMK treasurer M. K. Stalin, from the date of release (January 14, 2016).

Allowing a petition from Red Giant Movies, which sought exemption from entertainment tax for its film “Gethu”, Justice M. Duraiswamy also directed the State government to refund the tax from the said date to the petitioner. The judge set aside the order of the government rejecting the application of Red Giant Movies, seeking exemption from entertainment tax for the film.

“Senior counsel P. Wilson appearing for the petitioner, produced various dictionaries wherein, the word “Gethu” (in Tamil) has been shown as a Tamil word. Even in the dictionary viz., “A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Tamil Language”, published by the Directorate of Tamil Etymological Dictionary Project, Chennai, the word “Gethu” finds a place.

When the word “Gethu” has been included in the Tamil dictionaries, I am not in a position to understand how the six  member Viewing Committee unanimously came to the conclusion that the word “Gethu” is not a Tamil word”, the judge added.

The judge said when the petitioner has mentioned the title of the movie as “Gethu” that too in Tamil, the authorities should have taken into consideration the title of the movie as mentioned in the application and granted the exemption.

That apart, the findings of the six- member committee that the word was not a Tamil word, was not supported by any evidence. The basis for coming to such a conclusion was not explained by members of the committee, he said.