News

In a major box-office boost just two weeks ahead of its worldwide release, director Nitesh Tiwari’s mythological epic Ramayana: Part One has been officially declared tax-free across West Bengal.

The announcement was made on Tuesday during festive Dussehra celebrations at Central Park in Salt Lake, Kolkata, with key representatives of the film's production team in attendance. The state-level entertainment tax exemption applies to all language versions—Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam—setting the stage for reduced ticket prices across single screens and multiplex chains throughout the state.

The decision to grant the magnum opus tax-free status was framed as an initiative to encourage families, students, and youth to experience the civilizational epic on the big screen without prohibitive ticket price barriers:

Civilizational Storytelling: Addressing attendees at the Dussehra gathering, authorities noted that grand adaptations rooted in Indian heritage deserve institutional backing:

“Films celebrating our civilizational epics and cultural heritage like Ramayana should reach every household. Just as significant historical and cultural works have received state support in the past, the same policy applies to Ramayana. It allows families and the younger generation to witness this monumental effort together.”

Moment of Condolence: The gathering also observed a moment of silence to pay respects to the victims and bereaved families affected by the recent tragic incident at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal.

The tax-free order comes right as nationwide advance bookings for Ramayana: Part One opened across premium and standard exhibition formats:
State GST Exemption: By waiving the State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) component on cinema admissions, ticket prices across Kolkata, Howrah, Siliguri, and Durgapur will see an immediate price drop of approximately 9% to 18% depending on seat tiers.

Family Footfalls Boost: The price relief is expected to significantly accelerate group and bulk bookings, particularly for 3D and premium large-format screenings where ticket prices typically peak over holiday corridors.

Pre-Sales Momentum: With trade analysts projecting record-setting Day 1 figures, West Bengal's early tax waiver is likely to prompt distributor appeals for similar exemptions across other major northern and western states ahead of the November 5 bow.

Members of the film’s creative unit present in Kolkata reiterated their plea for audiences to support the scale of the endeavor:

Backing Domestic Innovation: Calling the film an ambitious gamble to place Indian cinematic storytelling on the global map alongside international studio tentpoles, the makers urged cinephiles to approach the film with an open mind:

“Namit Malhotra has put his reputation, resources, and years of tireless work on the line to mount this civilizational story on an international platform. Please don’t look for trivial faults or compare it dismissively. He has absorbed every critique from past efforts to make this visually pristine. If we don’t rally behind our own stories when mounted at this canvas, Indian cinema will be pushed back by years. Let’s come together and showcase our epic to the world.”

Securing a tax-free waiver in a key theatrical territory like West Bengal two weeks before release is a strategic coup for the makers of Ramayana. Beyond the immediate commercial lift in ticket velocity, the government endorsement creates powerful cultural momentum that could trigger a domino effect across other state administrations leading into the crucial Diwali–post-Diwali box-office window.