Mohanlal's Ranjit directed Spirit has been exempted from entertainment tax by the Kerala government, for the anti- alcohol message conveyed in the film. Remember Kerala has the highest cases of alcohol related issues. The long queues outside Kerala State Beverages Corporation are a testimony to that, and the government has been trying to control the intake of alcohol. Spirit which opened on June 14 to lukewarm response has picked up in the second week.
Mohanlal’s outstanding performance as an alcoholic who reforms in the second half is the highlight of the film. Now with Spirit getting tax free, which means a 20% reduction in admission rates more people are likely to watch the film. The buzz is that Spirit will do better business in the long run.