Producers Council vs FEFSI: Madras High Court grants time for response in ongoing dispute

The Madras High Court has intervened in an escalating conflict between the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) and the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), granting time for the latter to respond to legal proceedings. The case stems from FEFSI’s alleged refusal to cooperate in ongoing film shoots and production activities involving TFPC members. This unexpected standoff has disrupted numerous film projects across Tamil Nadu, raising concerns within the industry about the impact on schedules and finances.New union emerges, FEFSI issues directive against cooperation In its petition, TFPC claimed that a group of technicians had launched a rival organization under the name Tamil Nadu Film Workers Federation, purportedly to oppose FEFSI’s dominance. The Producers Council clarified that it had no ties with the new federation. Following this development, FEFSI issued a directive on April 2, advising its members not to work on films associated with TFPC. This move, according to producers, was aimed at creating pressure and curbing independent decision-making among film workers.Producers claim losses, demand uninterrupted film workThe TFPC argued that FEFSI’s actions violated prior contractual obligations and severely impacted the film industry's functioning. The sudden halt in production from April 8 led to major financial setbacks, with some projects stalled indefinitely. The Council urged the court to issue a directive ensuring that production work be allowed to proceed smoothly, and sought an injunction restraining FEFSI from further interference. They stressed that continued obstruction would not only damage the industry’s economy but also affect thousands of workers relying on daily wages.Court postpones hearing, grants time for FEFSI's replyAs per News 18, the petition came up for hearing before Justice N. Mala, where legal representatives for FEFSI requested additional time to prepare their response. Taking their request into consideration, the judge granted time for all involved unions to file their replies. The next hearing has been scheduled for June 4, and industry stakeholders are eagerly awaiting the court's directions to resolve the deadlock and resume normalcy in Tamil film production.