The Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) has accused the Nadigar Sangam, the Tamil film, television, and stage actors’ union, of dishonesty regarding actor Dhanush’s delayed projects. The TFPC claims it had warned the union about issues with several top actors, including Dhanush, causing delays and financial trouble for producers.
In a statement released on August 1, the TFPC said it had notified Nadigar Sangam a year ago about five major stars whose scheduling issues were creating significant problems for producers. The producers’ group also highlighted that this situation was previously covered in the media. The TFPC held a meeting on Friday to review decisions made public on July 29.
According to the TFPC, the lack of a concrete response from Nadigar Sangam led them to make their grievances public to protect their interests. The producers’ council had announced on July 29 that there would be a halt in shooting from November 1 until they address rising fees and other issues. Additionally, the TFPC demanded that actors and technicians complete their current projects before signing new ones.
The TFPC also proposed a temporary ban on signing new films starting August 15, aiming to introduce new guidelines. They cited difficulties faced by producers due to the unavailability of theaters and insisted that films featuring major stars be available on OTT platforms only after an eight-week theater run.
Nadigar Sangam Pushes Back
The TFPC’s demands have faced strong opposition from the South Indian Artistes’ Association (SIAA), also known as Nadigar Sangam. On July 29, actor Karthi and other SIAA representatives criticized the TFPC’s decisions as “arbitrary and illegal,” claiming they would harm the livelihoods of many in the film industry.
SIAA also alleged that Dhanush’s name was included in the TFPC’s complaints without proper process. Despite this, the TFPC remains resolute in their decision to halt film shoots from November 1 until new guidelines are established.
“The Tamil Film Producers’ Association, Tamil Nadu Distributors’ Association, and Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners’ Association have supported these decisions. It’s only fair that Nadigar Sangam also agrees,” the TFPC statement concluded.
