The ongoing tussle between Telugu film producers and the Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation has now escalated into a legal battle.
Producer T G Vishwa Prasad has served court notices to the Federation’s president, general secretary, and treasurer, further intensifying the standoff.
“Our three office bearers have received court notices, and our legal team will handle the matter. This is the first time we’ve been issued such notices,” said Ammiraju, general secretary of the Federation.
He claimed the notices allege daily losses of ₹1.5 crore after Vishwa Prasad’s films were halted mid-production due to the strike.
“Our members are upset that individuals are being targeted instead of the Federation. Talks with producers on our demands were already in progress,” he added.
Former general secretary Rajeshwar Reddy clarified that the legal action was from an individual, not the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce.
“This will not shake our determination. We have already given a strike notice to the Chamber and met with the coordination committee. While some issues have been resolved, our main demand; a 30% wage hike for skilled and unskilled workers; is still pending, which is why we halted work,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chiranjeevi issued a statement denying reports that he had met Federation members and agreed to their demands.
“I have not met anyone from the Federation. This is an industry-wide matter, and no individual, including myself, can give assurances or arrive at a solution alone. The Film Chamber is the apex body, and it is their collective responsibility to negotiate with all sections and reach a fair resolution. I strongly condemn baseless statements aimed at creating confusion,” he said.
Earlier, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce had issued a strict advisory in response to the strike call. It instructed producers, studios, and allied sectors not to negotiate with striking unions without its approval and to maintain a united front.
The Chamber also directed studios, outdoor units, and infrastructure providers to refrain from offering services without clearance, warning against any action that could weaken the industry’s collective position.
