The Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) has stirred up controversy with its new set of guidelines for the Tamil film industry: only Tamil artists can be engaged in Tamil films.
The hiring guideline and a rule that limits filming to within Tamil Nadu were part of a move to ensure FEFSI members remain employable, Manorama Online reported. There are fears in the industry that outsiders are taking away their jobs.
Headed by director and producer R.K. Selvamani, FEFSI is a network of 23 unions spanning the different trades in the Tamil film and television industry and boasting 25,000 members.
The federation forbids Tamil films from being shot in other states and foreign countries unless absolutely necessary. And shoots that cannot meet the deadline or keep to the budget have to be explained in writing to the producers.
Disciplinary action will be taken if the rules are violated, warned FEFSI. It claimed that its members could not get jobs because Tamil films were made with actors from other industries and filming in foreign locations deprives local technicians of employment opportunities.
Tamil cinema is one of India’s largest and most diverse film industries, attracting artists from across India.
Malayali and Telugu actors, in particular, have played a significant role in Tamil cinema. Fahad Faasil is one such non-Tamil actor who has left a mark in the Tamil industry, especially with Vikram in 2022.
Big-budget and star-led Tamil films often explore foreign locations for their visual appeal and storytelling.
The controversy surrounding FEFSI’s decision underscores the complexity of balancing regional representation with artistic freedom and creativity in the vibrant world of Tamil cinema.
Indian cinema is increasingly witnessing cross-collaborations among film industries of different languages, so this move by FEFSI has attracted criticism and debates online.
While most big names in Tamil cinema have preferred to remain silent on the new FEFSI guidelines, Malayalam filmmaker Vinayan openly slammed the decision.
He posted on Facebook the possibility of the Tamil film industry losing at least Rs150 crore ($24 million) should Kerala counter the restrictions by banning Tamil films in its cinemas.
“While we see India as a single nation, Tamil Nadu film associations are headed in a different direction,” he wrote.
“It is a highly localised decision in a place where it is believed that all Indians are brothers and sisters. This news has been out for a while but we have not seen the Tamil Nadu government opposing the decision.”
Vinayan added that the “separatist” move should not be allowed to grow and that no one should curb Indian artists from working in any state and language.
“My opinion is that the producers, theatre owners and distributors of Malayalam cinema should be ready as soon as possible to give a strong reply,” he said.
Vinayan, who directed Tamil films such as Naalai Namadhe, En Mana Vaanil and Kasi, said he loves Tamil films and Tamil Nadu but “cannot agree with the narrow mentality”.
In the wake of similar negative comments online, FEFSI general secretary B.N. Swaminathan came out to say that the organisation was merely safeguarding the interest of thousands of workers in the Tamil film industry.
“We can’t ban actors from working in Tamil films since our organisation has no such powers,” he told Deccan Herald.
“We have not imposed any restrictions on even chief technicians from other states working in the Tamil film industry.
“Our dancers and fighters are working in Telugu films under 50 per cent terms and they can also come here on similar terms.
“This time, it was only about daily-wage workers and nothing more.”
Indo-Asian News Service
