Telugu Film Employees Federation Call For Strike, Demands Higher Wages

Demanding an immediate salary hike of 30 percent, the Telugu Film Industry Employees’ Federation or TFIEF, called for a strike which will bring to a halt all films shoot in the two Telugu states including movies and web series. The TFIEF includes 24 categories or crafts of employees and workers in the Telugu cinema industry, consisting of both technical crew and production staff.

The federation had put out a notice on late Sunday which had stated, “As per the meeting held today, the Federation decided that from tomorrow (Aug 4), a 30 % wage hike should be given. Unless producers send a letter stating they will implement this hike and send it to unions, there will be no shooting.” The notice also added that federation needed to be notified of any film and web series shoot that was taking place in the two states and the rules applied equally for both. the notice added, “No member of the Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation shall be allowed to attend any film or web series shooting or any other events without the permission of the federation. These rules apply to Telugu cinema wherever shooting takes place and apply to Telugu films being made in other languages.” 

In response, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce too came out with a note stating they have been paying workers a much higher wage compared to other industries. “Federation is unilaterally demanding 30% wage increase. We have already been paying much higher than the existing minimum wages as per act to both skilled and unskilled workers. This disruption can cause heavy damages to films in production,” it reads. 

This wage demand has happened in the heat of a war between film producers and creatives for the use of Artificial Intelligence to alter films. On Sunday, actor-director Dhanush issued a statement on his various social media handles, calling out the decision to re-release of his 2013 film Raanjhanaa with an altered climax. The re-release hit screens last Friday with the film ending with Dhanush’s character waking up from his hospital bed. The ending was altered using artificial intelligence and clips of the ending began to flood social media feeds on Friday.