| | Musicians we missed |
| * Sting
* Elton John
* Roger Waters
Though the state has taken a policy decision, with changing times, we are always ready to take a fresh look at the tax
— Cultural Affairs
Minister Ashok Chavan |
While Mumbai’s business dreams have the Finance Minister’s blessings, its cultural ambitions are struggling for survival.
At least as far as western classical music goes.
With maestro Zubin Mehta’s annual concert tour in the offing (April 8-10), its organiser the Mehli Mehta Foundation is back to grappling with a crippling entertainment tax of 25 per cent.
“We’d requested a blanket exception, which was refused. But we received the exception last year and are trying for the same again, especially as one concert’s for tsunami relief,” says trustee Mehroo Jheejeebhoy, about the tax which has to be paid in advance, for a full house, including complimentary tickets.
What further aggravates this music community is the clubbing of western classical music with pop concerts, fashion shows and discos.
“We aren’t money-making ventures with mass audiences. This tax is throttling us,” protests Cantata Choir’s Olga Colaso, “We can match any foreign choir—give us a chance to put Mumbai on the culture map.”
Cultural Affairs Minister Ashok Chavan—revenue minister when the entertainment tax was slapped on—defends the tax: “It was imposed after the government found organisers were misusing the permission for western music concerts to conduct obscene programmes.”
The Bombay Chamber Orchestra’s Jinny Dinshaw dismisses this demarcation as “more political than cultural. Music is universal.”
Pointing out how other Far Eastern countries have embraced western classical music along with their own traditional forms, she’s hoping for a release from this step-motherly treatment.
“And there’s no point only favouring high-profile visiting musicians. What about a sustained local effort?” she asks.
Jheejeebhoy, too, believes this century-old form needs an equal platform: “In today’s world, culture can no longer be defined by such boundaries. If Shakespeare and Tagore have universal appeal, how can we decide where ‘our’ ends?”
For his part, Chavan promises, ‘‘We are ready to exempt good programmes from the tax, if say internationally acclaimed artists are performing in the city. We would definitely welcome any moves which would position Mumbai as a popular tourist and cultural centre.’’