senior filmmaker and former president of the Telugu Film Producers Council, Thammareddy Bharadwaja on when he thinks the turmoil will end.
Why this strike all of a sudden?
It is correct on the part of producers to go on strike and also the film employees to ban movie shootings. It is just that it was timed wrong. The producers went on strike because they are frustrated with increasing movie budgets. Also directors are taking years to shoot films. It is acceptable for a few films like 'Magadheera' or 'Arundhati' to take a year or so, because they are visual treats. But if directors take years for every movie, the industry will suffer. If the number of days taken to make a movie comes down, star remunerations will decrease automatically. Therefore producers want these issues to be resolved immediately. Film employees want a pay revision and so they are on strike.
What are the main demands of producers?
Movies like 'Khaleja' and 'Komaram Puli' would have been hits, if they were made faster. They were made in two years and so budgets escalated, leaving the producer in loss. It is alright if the director is working on content for years. But once the movie hits the floors, it shouldn’t take years to make it. Directors cost producers huge amounts of money due to lack of planning. Producers want directors to finish movies in a three-month time period. It will reduce movie budgets by 40 per cent. This is the first time that producers are going on strike in Tollywood and there is unity among us. It is a good sign.
What is the solution to the demands for pay hike by film employees?
The fight between the stuntmen of the Telugu and Chennai film industries can be resolved easily. Apart from that fight, film employees now want a pay hike. Their pay revision is due early next year, but they want it to be done right now. This can be solved through talks. If a verbal promise is made on hiking their pay as well as addressing other concerns like priority to local talent in our movies, they will get back to work.
How will this strike affect Tollywood?
I am guessing the issues will be sorted out in a day or two. The film employees need a verbal promise from producers and film chamber at least to start working again. But the producers will withdraw their strike call only after they set up guidelines on how many days should the movie be shot in, how many hours should actors be on the sets etc. These guidelines need to be put on paper and so it might take some time.
But will actors agree to take pay cuts?
We are not asking actors to take pay cuts. If the number of working days come down, the expenses will obviously come down. Now the directors are taking a year to make a movie, and so the stars are charging huge money. If the movie is shot in three months, they will charge less and do more films which is good for Telugu cinema industry.
AND NOW THE STRIKE HAS BEEN CALLED OFF
Thammareddy Bharadwaja Interview about Strike for ABO
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