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Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Standoff in Tamil cinema disrupts several productions, High Court calls for mediation
A long-simmering conflict in the Tamil film industry, between producers and technicians, reached a crucial moment on Monday as the Madras High Court declined to issue interim relief against a non-cooperation protest launched by the technicians. In the conflict between the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) and the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), Justice K Kumaresh Babu, hearing a civil suit filed by TFPC against FEFSI, suggested that both parties recommend names of retired High Court judges who could be appointed as neutral mediators. The court has given until Wednesday for both sides to submit names. The producers had sought a stay on the FEFSI's protest, which has disrupted multiple ongoing film productions in the state. The FEFSI, an umbrella body representing 24 technicians' and film workers' unions, has been at loggerheads with the TFPC since the expiry of a three-year MoU on March 9. The MoU governed wages, working conditions, and cooperative norms between producers and technicians. In court, FEFSI's legal counsel, advocate G Mohanakrishnan, painted a stark picture of inequality in the Tamil film industry. 'Top actors are paid Rs 300 crore per movie, while technicians struggle to get even Rs 3,000 a day,' he argued, calling the situation untenable and exploitative. He further alleged that TFPC was attempting to undermine the livelihoods of Tamil Nadu-based technicians by importing workers from other states to continue film shoots stalled by the impasse. The producers' side, represented by advocate Krishna Ravindran, countered that TFPC comprises mainly small-budget filmmakers — not the few mega-budget producers driving exorbitant salaries for actors. He emphasised that TFPC had followed a consistent practice of signing MoUs with FEFSI every three years and was willing to renew the agreement, but was met with hostility and allegations instead. Central to the producers' grievance is the charge that FEFSI's protest has brought the industry to a standstill. 'Ongoing production works have been stalled, resulting in major financial losses,' said Ravindran. 'Technicians affiliated with FEFSI are refusing to cooperate, jeopardising the livelihood of hundreds of others involved in film projects,' he alleged. In April, the federation issued a circular to all its 23 affiliated unions, asking them not to cooperate with TFPC members. The move came after FEFSI accused TFPC of secretly backing a rival technicians' association — Tamil Nadu Thiraipada Thozhilalargal Sammelanam — in what it believes is an effort to splinter the organised workforce. The producers deny any link to the new association. 'TFPC has no involvement in setting up any rival union,' said Ravindran. But he did acknowledge that the deadlock had pushed some producers to explore working with a separate body, the Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA), as a workaround to continue stalled projects. As the impasse deepens, the Tamil Nadu government has taken note. Minister for Information and Publicity, M P Saminathan, is expected to step in to mediate talks, underlining the growing public and political pressure to resolve the conflict. In court, Justice Babu was firm in his observation that he could not compel FEFSI to resume work with TFPC, given that the binding MoU had lapsed. However, he did note that individual producers could pursue legal action if existing work agreements had been violated. He also expressed concern that both sides risk further erosion of goodwill and financial damage if the matter is not resolved swiftly. With both FEFSI and TFPC expected to submit their recommended names for a retired High Court judge to mediate, the coming week will be critical for whether this is going to be a step toward reconciliation or a deeper institutional rupture in Tamil cinema's labour landscape.
Hans India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
South Indian Film Employees' Federation moves Madras HC over underpayment to technicians
Chennai: The simmering dispute over wages for film technicians in Tamil Nadu reached the Madras High Court on Monday, with the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) alleging that technicians are being pushed to the margins even as leading actors earn up to Rs 300 crore per film. Appearing before Justice K. Kumaresh Babu, FEFSI counsel G. Mohanakrishnan accused members of the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) of trying to 'snatch the livelihood' of local technicians by recruiting crews from other States to finish ongoing productions. He said technicians in the State often earn less than Rs 3,000 a day despite the industry's soaring top-line salaries. TFPC's counsel Krishna Ravindran countered that most of the council's members are small-budget film-makers, not corporate studios, and insisted the producers are 'equally concerned' about worker welfare. He pointed out that TFPC and FEFSI have traditionally signed a wage-fixing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) every three years, the last of which, inked in 2022, expired on March 9 this year. According to Ravindran, relations deteriorated when FEFSI, suspecting TFPC of backing a breakaway technicians' body called the Tamil Nadu Thiraipada Thozhilalargal Sammelanam, issued a non-cooperation directive on April 2 to all 23 of its affiliated craft unions. The order, he said, triggered walk-outs on sets and 'significant monetary losses' to producers as projects stalled. Ravindran added that FEFSI has since begun collaborating with a separate producers' faction, the Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA), prompting the State's Information and Publicity Minister M. P. Saminathan to step in and convene talks. Justice Babu observed that, with the MoU no longer in force, the court could not compel FEFSI members to work on TFPC-backed films. At the same time, he noted that individual producers remained free to sue crew members for breach of existing work contracts, if any. Stressing the need for an amicable settlement, the judge urged both sides to nominate, by Wednesday (July 2), two retired High Court judges who could act as mediators. 'Given the tight production schedules and the livelihoods at stake, it is in everyone's interest to resolve this across the table,' Justice Babu said before adjourning the matter.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Actors paid ₹300 crore while technicians earn less than ₹3,000, FEFSI tells Madras High Court
Top actors are being paid ₹300 crore per movie, but technicians are not even paid ₹3,000 a day, the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) complained before the Madras High Court on Monday (June 30, 2025), while opposing a civil suit filed against it by the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC). Appearing before Justice K. Kumaresh Babu, advocate G. Mohanakrishnan, representing FEFSI, said, members of TFPC were also trying to 'snatch the livelihood' of technicians in Tamil Nadu by attempting to employ people from other States to complete ongoing projects. On the other hand, advocate Krishna Ravindran, representing TFPC, stated that a majority of the members of the council were small-budget moviemakers and not corporate filmmakers who make big-budget movies. He said, TFPC was equally concerned about the technicians. The counsel said, TFPC had been following the practice of entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) once in three years with FEFSI with respect to the fixation of wages for technicians and also other service conditions. The last MoU, signed in 2022, ended on March 9, 2025. In the meantime, FEFSI suspected TFPC of having promoted a rival association of technicians named Tamil Nadu Thiraipada Thozhilalargal Sammelanam, and issued a communication to all its 23 affiliated associations on April 2, 2025, asking them not to cooperate with the members of TFPC. Asserting that TFPC had nothing to do with the rival association of technicians, Mr. Ravindran said, ever since FEFSI issued the non-cooperation communication to its affiliated associations, the technicians were refusing to work for the ongoing film projects, thereby causing great monetary loss to the producers. Minister to hold talks He also said FEFSI had now begun to work with another body titled Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA), and that the issue had become so serious that Minister for Information and Publicity M.P. Saminathan had decided to intervene and hold talks between the parties to resolve the impasse. After hearing both sides, Justice Babu made it clear that he could not compel the members of FEFSI to work with TFPC since the MoU had expired on March 9, 2025. At the same time, he warned that TFPC members could always initiate legal action against individual members of FEFSI for violation of work agreements. Therefore, he suggested it would be in the interest of both parties to resolve their differences across the table. The judge asked Mr. Mohanakrishnan and Mr. Ravindran to submit by Wednesday (July 2) a couple of names of retired judges of the High Court who could be appointed as a mediator.
NDTV
20-06-2025
- NDTV
Madras High Court Stays Probe Agency ED Action Against Producer Vikram Ravindran, Associate
Chennai: In a major setback for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the high-profile TASMAC money laundering probe, the Madras High Court has stayed proceedings against Tamil film producer Vikram Ravindran and his associate, ruling that the ED's search and seizure operation was without authority and jurisdiction. The court also directed the ED to return all properties seized during the raid including electronic devices, with a caveat that the petitioners must not tamper with or alienate the contents of the returned items. Delivering a scathing verdict, the court noted that the ED failed to produce any incriminating material that would justify initiating proceedings against the petitioners. Despite being given two opportunities to submit evidence justifying the search, the agency could not furnish any document that suggested Mr Ravindran and his friend were involved in money laundering linked to the Rs 1,000 crore TASMAC scam. "The material presented in a sealed cover does not contain any semblance of information, which may have led them to believe that the petitioner may be involved in the offence of money laundering," the court said. It said no incriminating documents were in the ED's possession when the search was first authorised. The petitioners said they had no role in TASMAC operations and were not named in any of the 41 first information reports filed by the state's directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption. The ED earlier claimed to possess incriminating documents and alleged the duo's involvement. Alleging a Rs 1,000 crore scam in TASMAC, the government arm that sells liquor, the ED accused distilleries and bottle manufacturing firms of colluding in corrupt practices amounting to over Rs 1,000 crore. In a significant development during the hearing, the ED said it had no authority to seal the petitioners' properties and agreed to de-seal the premises. This comes at a time when the Supreme Court has already stayed the ED probe into the TASMAC case, expressing concern over the agency's aggressive approach. The Supreme Court questioned the very basis of criminal action against a state-run corporation, particularly when FIRs were registered against individuals and not the corporation itself. It had also warned that the ED was "crossing all limits" and "breaching the federal structure". The ruling DMK has repeatedly alleged that central agencies like the ED are being misused by the BJP-led Union government to target Opposition-ruled states and political rivals. The BJP has denied all such charges. Opposition parties have highlighted the ED's alleged coercive role in extracting large political donations under the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme.
India Today
20-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
High Court pauses ED action against film producer in Tamil Nadu liquor scam
The Madras High Court, on Friday, halted all proceedings by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against film producer Aakash Baskaran. The court also directed the investigation agency to return all materials seized from ED raided multiple locations linked with Baskaran, and his associate, Vikram Ravindran, on May 16, in connection with the alleged scam in Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac). The ED's search and seizure operations at multiple premises were part of the intensified probe into the Tasmac a film producer at Dawn Pictures, came under the ED's scanner due to his alleged proximity to the ruling DMK party, specifically Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. His name emerged in connection with the alleged siphoning off of funds in the Tasmac scam. The Madras High Court questioned the legal foundation of the ED's actions against Baskaran and Ravindran. The Division Bench comprising Justices MS Ramesh and V Lakshminarayan held that the authorisation for the raids appeared to be prima facie beyond the ED's court also noted that the materials relied upon by the agency lacked any incriminating content justifying such coercive measures. The judges underscored that sealing premises in the absence of the occupants — without recording the presence of any material evidence — violated the scope of Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), mere act of sealing cannot be presumed as equivalent to seizure,' the bench observed, as quoted by Live Law, adding that such actions risked misleading implications about the agency's on May 22, the Supreme Court issued a stay on ED's investigation into Tasmac. A senior DMK leader viewed this as a welcome move, stating it provides relief not just for Tamil Nadu but for all non-BJP states. The Supreme Court order came after the Tamil Nadu government moved a petition challenging Madras High Court's Madras High Court's sharp observations on Friday came after Baskaran and Ravindran submitted that the ED had sealed their offices and homes in their absence, and that no seizure was recorded in their presence as mandated by law. In response, the ED claimed it had attempted to contact the petitioners multiple times, but they did not cooperate. However, the court held that this did not justify sealing premises without following due and Ravindran both stated they weren't named as accused in any registered Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR). This was confirmed by the ED's Special Public Prosecutor during the hearing, stated a report in the Indian court, noting this, directed the agency to return all seized materials and unseal the premises forthwith, reinforcing the principle that investigatory powers must remain within constitutional CASE OF ALLEGED TASMAC SCAMadvertisementThe ED's investigation stems from an alleged Rs 1,000 crore scam involving Tasmac. According to ED sources, distilleries under-reported expenses and issued bogus invoices — particularly for bottle manufacturing — in order to syphon unaccounted cash. These funds were allegedly used to pay bribes for securing favourable supply filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) between 2016 and 2021 form the basis of the PMLA ED, on March 6 and 8, conducted extensive raids targeting Tasmac's top officials, including Managing Director S Visakan, as well as private individuals suspected to be beneficiaries of the scheme. Aakash Bhaskaran's name surfaced due to alleged investments of diverted funds into the film industry, prompting the May 16 raids at locations associated with him and Ravindran.
