Strike by film workers' stall shootings
Hyderabad: Strike by film workers which began on Friday stalled shootings of 18 films, including those of big actors like Balakrishna, Jr NTR and Mahesh Babu were affected. Even technicians boycotted post-production work at various laboratories in the city. Film employees working outside the city were asked to return by Sunday evening to ensure no shootings take place elsewhere in the state.
Producer C Kalyan who was in the thick of a controversy for his association with factionist Maddelacheruvu Suri, who was murdered last year, came under severe criticism from striking film workers for allegedly coming in the way of settling their remuneration issue.
Kalyan, who is a big budget Telugu film producer, also happens to be the president of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC). While the A P Film Chamber of Commerce and the A P Film Industry Employees' Federation (APFIEF) had come to an understanding over the revision of wages, Kalyan is said to be influencing a section of the Telugu Film Producers Council (TFPC) against the hike.
'Why should SIFCC try to get involved in the affairs of the Telugu film industry? People from here and holding positions there should not try to derail the process of solution that is being worked out,' M Rajeshwar Reddy, general secretary of APFIEF, said.
More than 14,000 film workers belonging to 24 crafts from the film industry did not attend shootings in the city. Meanwhile, the APFIEF sent a communication to their counterparts in Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka urging them not to work for Telugu film producers if they are approached.
The strike has come at a crucial time for producers as many films have been planned for release this summer. It is during the summer months that films net good revenue because of school and college holidays.
News Posted: 9 April, 2011
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