Tamil Film Industry comes to a standstill as FEFSI members go on strike

Shooting of close to 20 films have been withheld as members of Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) went on strike, demanding a revision in wages. The crisis aggravated as Tamil Nadu Film Producers Council (TFPC) turned down the offer. FEFSI is a conglomeration of 24 unions of various crafts of the film industry and has over 25,000 members. 

The organisation was at loggerheads with producer-actor R.K. Suresh on the sets of "Billa Pandi" last month as the technicians demanded a raise in their wages. Suresh escalated the issue to Vishal, president of TFPC, who stopped the shooting saying that non-FEFSI members can be recruited as technicians. This worsened the situation as FEFSI head R.K. Selvamani said, "TFPC should work with the members of FEFSI who are more than 25,000 in number and can't use non-FEFSI members. The wage agreement for FEFSI members expired on July 31 and that's why we requested revision in daily wages. The members should be paid new wages and until then we will be on strike."

The strike has affected more than 20 films that are currently in progress, including Rajinikanth's 'Kaala'. Speaking to media, a member of the producer's council said, "The shoot of over 20 Tamil films including Rajinikanth's 'Kaala' has been stopped. FEFSI workers are part of most Tamil films and they have been instructed to not take part in the shooting. They have to understand it will only affect their livelihood." The only film that remains unaffected by the recent strike is Vishal's upcoming Tamil thriller 'Thupparivaalan', which is being shot in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. 

• tamil nadu
• south