Chennai: Senior counsel P Wilson, appearing for Red Giant Movies, which sought exemption from entertainment tax for its Tamil film Gethu, starring Udhayanidhi Stalin, has informed the Madras high court that ‘gethu’ is a Tamil word and it had been used in Arunagirinathar’s Tiruppugazh.
When the petition filed by Red Giant Movies came up for hearing before Justice R. Mahadevan, additional government pleader (AGP) Haribabu submitted that the word ‘gethu’ was not a Tamil word.
Opposing this, Wilson submitted that gethu was a Tamil word. He produced two dictionaries written by Tamil professors and said as per the dictionaries, the meaning of the word was proud or hearty.
He also produced certificates from Mu Metha and two other organisations stating that it was a Tamil word.
It was quite unfortunate that the government was disowning the word for the sake of Udhayanidhi Stalin, he said.
After AGP sought time, the judge adjourned the matter to January 27. In its petition, Red Giant Movies contended that the viewing committee, which recommended rejection of its application on the ground that the word was not a Tamil word, was loaded with persons who were affiliated to the ruling party and therefore carry ill-will against the petitioner firm’s partner Udhayanidhi Stalin, who was the son of M. K. Stalin, treasurer of DMK, which was the principal opposition party in the state.
That was why the authorities mechanically and routinely reject all applications of the petitioner for exemption from entertainment tax, the producer said.
