Tamil Nadu film industry federation embarks on indefinite stir

The Film Employees' Federation of South India (FEFSI) went on strike after the Tamil Film Producers' Council (TFPC) refused to budge from its decision to hire workers of their choice and not source those owing allegiance to the former.

The strike partially affected the industry with shooting of some films including 'superstar' Rajinikanth's 'Kaala' being reportedly suspended.

However, the TFPC, whose president Vishal, also an actor, made it clear that it will not budge.

TFPC also uploaded a video on its Twitter page showing Vishal working on his latest film 'Thupparivalan' (Detective) at Chidambaram in Cuddalore district.

Earlier, FEFSI president and director RK Selvamani had announced embarking on the strike if the wages of the employees were not revised.

Recently, the shooting of a Tamil film was disrupted when FEFSI members reportedly sought a hike in their wages, prompting TFPC to declare that the producers were free to hire employees of their choice to carry on with their work.

It had also said wages should be paid according to scales fixed by the producers' council.

Irked by this, FEFSI had announced that only those registered with it should be employed by the producers.

Vishal had informed FEFSI that TFPC was not against the employees but made it clear that business will go on as usual.

He said in a statement that efforts were on to "regulate" certain wage structures and also expressed concern that production was not as remunerative as it was a few years ago.

Every time wage revision talks were on, problems arose between producers and FEFSI following "issues raised" by a technicians association part of FEFSI, Vishal said.

TFPC was prepared to work with FEFSI and workers in general, but not with the technicians' association, he added.

TFPC's decisions were taken in the interest of the producers only, he added.