MUMBAI: The Film Federation of India, the apex body of film industry in the country, has called for a strike on 23 February to protest against the government’s proposal to keep the industry under service tax purview.

According to FFI president Vinod Lamba, the strike will help in conveying the plight of the film industry, which is already reeling under multiple tax regime.

“There is no denying that the entire Indian film industry is in deep trouble because of various taxes it is subjected to, and the imposition of service tax will further increase its burden. This blackout aims to show the government how much producers are suffering,” FFI president Vinod Lamba has been quoted as saying.

Prominent film personalities like Madhur Bhandarkar, Pritish Nandy, and Mahesh Bhatt among others have supported the blackout while sharing Lamba‘s sentiments.

The FFI through its representatives and certain member of parliament‘s had already lodged a strong complaint with the finance minister last month.

The federation had contended that the levy of service tax will sound the death knell for the Indian film industry. "We will be forced to shut down the entire Indian film industry," the FFI had reportedly told the Finance Minister during the course of a presentation.

Statistics have proved that only 7-8 per cent of all the Indian films are commercially successful, while the rest are barely able to recover their cost or at best make meagre profits.