A significant standoff is currently unfolding in the Tamil film industry, leading to disruptions in several film productions.
The Madras High Court has indeed stepped in and called for mediation to resolve the ongoing conflict between the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) and the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI).
The primary trigger for the conflict is the expiry of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between TFPC and FEFSI on March 9, 2025.
This MoU governed wages, working conditions, and cooperative norms for technicians and other film workers. FEFSI is now pushing for a new MoU with revised remuneration and better working conditions.
FEFSI’s legal counsel in court painted a stark picture of inequality within the industry, arguing that “top actors are paid Rs 300 crore per movie, while technicians struggle to get even Rs 3,000 a day.” They deem this situation “untenable and exploitative”.
The TFPC, represented by their legal counsel, has countered that their council largely comprises small-budget filmmakers, not the few mega-budget producers responsible for exorbitant actor salaries. They claim they have consistently signed MoUs with FEFSI and are willing to renew the agreement but have been met with hostility. They highlight the substantial financial losses incurred due to the ongoing protest.
The Madras High Court, specifically Justice K. Kumaresh Babu, declined to issue interim relief against FEFSI’s non-cooperation protest. The court observed that it could not compel FEFSI to resume work with TFPC since the binding MoU had already lapsed.
However, Justice Kumaresh Babu strongly urged both parties to resolve their differences through mediation. He suggested that both TFPC and FEFSI recommend names of retired High Court judges who could be appointed as neutral mediators.