FEFSI urges producers to reconsider September 1 shooting halt, seeks Tamil Nadu government intervention

CHENNAI: The Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) has urged Tamil film producers to reconsider their decision to halt all shooting and production activities from September 1, warning that the move could severely affect the livelihoods of thousands of daily-wage workers.

In an appeal addressed to the Tamil Nadu government and producers’ associations, FEFSI sought immediate government intervention and called for tripartite talks involving producers, theatre owners and workers’ unions to find an amicable solution.

The appeal comes after the Tamil Film Producers Council and the Tamil Film Active Producers Association announced that all film-related work, including shooting and post-production, would be halted from September 1. The producers had taken the decision amid their dispute with theatre owners over the window for releasing films on OTT platforms, besides financial concerns.

While acknowledging the producers’ grievances, FEFSI said the decision to abruptly stop ongoing shoots had come as a “major shock” to the workforce.

“A halt in film shootings directly affects not just producers, but thousands of daily-wage workers and their families who depend entirely on daily employment for their sustenance,” the federation said.

FEFSI pointed out that the film industry supports a large network of workers across departments, including assistant directors, cinematographers, technicians, lightmen, set workers, makeup artists and transport personnel.

The federation also recalled the 45-to-50-day industry strike in 2023, during which tripartite discussions were held under government supervision. It said several key resolutions arrived at during those talks remain unimplemented.

FEFSI cautioned that repeatedly halting film production whenever disputes arise could cause recurring disruption across the industry and called for a mechanism to ensure that agreements reached by stakeholders are implemented.

Stating that strikes cannot be an immediate or sustainable solution to structural issues, FEFSI appealed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to intervene and facilitate talks between producers, theatre owners and workers’ unions.

The federation also sought a time-bound action plan to address the industry’s long-standing issues while ensuring that the livelihoods of film workers are protected.