On Monday evening, Chiranjeevi met a delegation of the Telugu Film Industry Employees’ Federation (TFIEF), in order to discuss the ongoing film workers’ strike. The delegation consisted of 72 members from all 24 crafts of film workers.
In the meeting that lasted for more than 2 hours, the TFIEF members expressed their concerns about their demands, and the conditions put forward by TFI producers’ council a few days ago which includes a 12-hour call sheet among others. Besides hearing the federations’ perspective, Chiranjeevi too reportedly expressed concern over the growing disconnect between leadership and the workforce, and emphasised that thriving film industry is only possible when its workers are treated with dignity and respect.
On Tuesday, the federation workers organised a dharnaa to restate their many demands who continue to not be met. Among others, federation president Anil Kumar and small film producers like Tamireddy Bharadwaj and Natti Kumar were present at the protest. They also confirmed that Chiranjeevi is planning to meet the concerned bodies on Tuesday again, to work towards resolving the issue.
It’s been more than 2 weeks now that Telugu film industry remains in a standstill, since the film workers’ strike commencement on August 3. The strike has also brought shoot to a halt for many films, including Chiranjeevi starrer MEGA 157 and Ravi Teja’s Mass Jathara that is reportedly postponed because of non-completion of its final leg of shoot. Meanwhile, the makers of Pawan Kalyan starrer OG are completing the post-production for their film in Chennai, in order to release their film on September 25 as planned.
