'Take firm decision on providing protection to film industry'

Actor Prakash Raj today requested the government to take a firm decision on providing protection to the film industry, which did not have proper safeguards, as seen by a producer's suicide.
The Government should take a firm decision on the matter as despite paying taxes, the film industry has no proper safeguards, he told reporters at the airport here.
He said the suicide of Tamil film producer Ashokkumar was a clear indication of the real condition in the film field.
Expressing regret over his death, he said it also raised many questions and nobody should take such a decision (to commit suicide).

Such suicides had occured earlier also, but no one noticed them, he said.
The producer allegedly committed suicide at his house in Chennai, with a suicide note recovered from the spot blaming a Madurai-based film financer for pushing him to take the extreme step.

Kumar reportedly accused the financier of charging exorbitant interest on some loans obtained by him, and harassing him over the same.
On the controversy surrounding release of Padmavati, Prakash Raj said it was not right for the government to remain silent on the matter.
Asked about actor Kamal Haasan' tweets, critcising the government on issues, he said some ministers were blaming him for speaking without having any proof.

If so, it is their duty to produce proof against it. They should resort to legal action, instead of holding out threats, he said.