Bhubaneswar: In a move aimed at supporting socially impactful cinema, the Odisha government has decided to refund the State GST (SGST) collected on screenings of five films — two Odia and three Hindi — across the state.
The reimbursement order, issued by the Finance Department on August 13, covers Odia films DAMaN and Delivery Boy along with Hindi titles Zwigato, 12th Fail, and The Sabarmati Report. Territorial CT & GST heads have been asked to provide details of reimbursements made under this directive.
The films had earlier been declared tax-free by the state. DAMaN, inspired by Odisha’s malaria eradication programme, was given full exemption in 2022. Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail, as well as The Sabarmati Report, based on the 2002 Godhra train burning incident, were also accorded tax-free status.
Likewise, Odia film Delivery Boy, highlighting the struggles of delivery workers and promoting road safety awareness, and Nandita Das’s Zwigato, set in Bhubaneswar, had their entertainment tax waived off by the government.
By refunding the SGST, the state has reiterated its policy of encouraging films with strong social messages and cultural significance
