Om Raut’s Take on Trump’s 100% Tariff on Foreign Films

Film director Om Raut recently shared his thoughts on U.S. President Donald Trump’s new plan to impose a 100% tax on movies made outside the United States. In an interview, he explained that Indian films, especially Hindi movies, are often not shown in all theaters across the U.S.

He pointed out that movies like “RRR” are only available in certain places, often far from where many people live. In big cities like New York and Los Angeles, you can find these films in many theaters, but in smaller towns, they are only shown in a few places.

Om noted that when Indian people in America want to watch a movie, they pay a ticket price similar to English films. Typically, tickets for Indian films cost about $10 to $12, but South Indian films, particularly Telugu movies, can be even more expensive, ranging from $20 to $25.

He expressed concern that if the tax increases, ticket prices will also go up. This could make fewer people want to watch movies, affecting how much money the films make at the box office.

Om also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his efforts help promote India’s culture globally. He mentioned that cinema and art can connect people from different countries and foster better relationships.

He is worried that if film tickets become too expensive, more people might turn to piracy to watch movies illegally, which could harm the film industry. Om believes the U.S. government should think carefully about the impact of this tax, as it could disrupt cultural exchange and negatively impact the film industry.

President Trump has stated that he directed U.S. trade officials to start the process of imposing this new tax because he believes the American movie industry is struggling. He described the situation as a national threat, claiming that foreign countries are luring away American filmmakers with incentives. He wants more movies to be made in America.