Actor Vishal Krishna has openly questioned Chief Minister Joseph Vijay over the allocation of the Film Technology and Cinematograph portfolio in the newly formed Tamil Nadu cabinet. His statement has sparked a major discussion within the Tamil film industry about ministerial appointments and long-pending industry reforms.
Vishal’s Concerns About Portfolio Allocation
Vishal said he was happy to see ministries being allocated to elected MLAs by CM Vijay, but expressed disappointment over Minister Rajmohan being appointed to handle the Film Technology and Cinematograph department. According to Vishal, the industry is currently going through a difficult phase and requires someone with deep knowledge and long-term experience in cinema to understand its problems.
The actor pointed out that Vijay himself has been part of the film industry for nearly three decades and understands the struggles of producers, production houses, distributors, and theatre owners from the grassroots level. Vishal questioned how film bodies and associations could effectively present their grievances to someone who may not fully understand the current challenges faced by the industry.
Key Demands from Tamil Film Fraternity
In his statement, Vishal also listed several key demands that the Tamil film fraternity has been requesting for years. One of his major suggestions was the introduction of a government-controlled ticketing platform, which he believes could increase revenue for the government while also reducing the burden on audiences who reportedly pay extra charges on movie tickets.
He further requested the Tamil Nadu government to abolish the local body tax, claiming that Tamil Nadu remains the only state imposing two taxes despite the “One India, One Tax” system. Vishal, who previously led Nadigar Sangam protests on industry issues, also urged the government to increase subsidies for small-budget films, stating that the current support provided to filmmakers is too minimal.
Hope for Industry Reforms Under New Government
The actor clarified that his comments were not meant to disrespect Minister Rajmohan and described them purely as his personal opinion. However, he stressed that the industry has been waiting for meaningful reforms for nearly nine years and hoped that CM Vijay would provide the much-needed relief to the struggling film fraternity.
Vishal ended his statement by extending his wishes to Chief Minister Vijay and expressing hope that the Tamil film industry would soon see positive changes under the new government. The actor’s open letter has resonated with several industry members who have echoed similar concerns about the need for experienced leadership in the film ministry.