High drama ensues, as a group of producers protest against TFPC head Vishal

The group of producers put forth 18 points to explain why they are discontent with the current leadership and why they demand Vishal's resignation immediately
 High drama ensues, as a group of producers protest against TFPC head Vishal

The Tamil Nadu Film Producers' Council (TFPC) office in T Nagar was the battleground Wednesday morning as a group of producers consisting of AL Azhagappan, T Siva, Suresh Kamatchi, and SV Sekhar, among others, locked down the office... literally. Kathiresan, the honorary secretary, was on the ground to act as a peacemaker, but as he did not have any answers that appeased the opposition group, he proceeded to leave the meeting soon after. 

The group of producers put forth 18 points to explain why they are discontent with the current leadership and why they demand Vishal's resignation immediately. Some of the allegations include mismanagement of funds (the fixed deposit of 7.8 crores left by the last group is particularly a point of concern), unkept promises (combating piracy, absence of income from Cable TV), large expenses (increased salary, increased rent)... The chief complaint however is the absence of the Annual General Body Meeting. According to bylaws, every year, a meeting has to be conducted before September 30 to showcase the accounts, and take permission for the upcoming activities of the next year. The meeting held on December 10, 2017, was abandoned halfway and retired judge RS Ramanathan has filed a report to this effect. 

The catalyst however seems to have been the Ilaiyaraaja concert that has been scheduled in the month of February which has been supposedly decided without securing the approval of the council. T Siva from the protesting faction says, "I don't think there has been any corruption. It just is not possible. We think there is a lot of mismanagement. This is a good idea but how can one person take decision on behalf of us all? Not outsourcing this to an event management is just not right." He points out how well run the Nadigar Sangam is, in contrast. "Nassar and Karthik are doing a stellar job and the latter especially is on point with the finances. However, Vishal is running the TFPC to the ground."

Meeting the press, producer AL Azhagappan said that over 1,300 producers are present in the committee. "With just a phone call, we were able to gather this crowd of 250-300 people. Imagine how much angst these people have. We want a new attack committee (a temporary committee with decision-making powers) to be formed that will act as stewards while election preparations happen for March 2019."

A group comprising of Suresh Kamatchi, T Siva and Satya Jyothi Thyagarajan, headed by director Bharathiraaja, met the Chief Minister at his house and have got an appointment to meet him again at the secretariat at 10.30am on Thursday. It is expected that they will urge him to dismiss the current group and prevent further mismanagement.

Meanwhile, Tamil Film Producers Council President Vishal and other office bearers assembled at Pondy Bazaar Police station to file a police complaint against the producers who have locked the Producers Council office at T. Nagar and Anna Salai. Vishal said no wrong has been done and that all accounts will be presented at a meet that will be convened soon. He also said that no one can stop the Ilaiyaraaja concert from happening.

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