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Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Death of a stuntman: It's about time there were safety standards for film sets
During the making of Pa Ranjith's upcoming film Vettuvam, stuntman S Mohanraj died while performing a car toppling sequence. A video clip capturing the accident made it to the news, greatly shocking anyone who watched it. The film industry regards Mohanraj, a veteran with over three decades of experience, as a specialist in performing car stunts, and it wasn't the first time he was executing such a stunt. A day after the demise, filmmaker Pa Ranjith issued a heartfelt condolence message while also clarifying that safety protocols had been in place and precautions had been taken as advised by the stunt experts. The case probably gained widespread attention as a video clip capturing the fatal accident was shared by someone present on the film set. But such deaths during film shoots are not as rare as might be imagined, although in the absence of similar video evidence, they hardly make news. Last year, in another high profile film, Sardar 2 starring actor Karthi, a stuntman died in an accident. Much earlier, in 2020, during the shoot of filmmaker Shankar's Indian 2, starring Kamal Haasan, three individuals — an assistant director, an art assistant and a production assistant — were killed while mounting a heavy-duty light on a crane, while another 10 were injured. It is important to note that the three individuals were killed not during a risky stunt sequence, but merely during the erection of a set. Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) president RK Selvamani stated that between Indian 2 and Sardar 2, as many as 20 stuntmen have been killed in on-set accidents. However, these deaths hardly make it to the news, except in the case of high profile films. While senior stunt masters have repeatedly pressed for better safety standards, they have also invoked the Tamil saying 'Karanam thappinal maranam (Death is assured, even in the case of a small slip)', reflecting an internalised readiness to accept the risk of death as intrinsic to the job. Ideally, FEFSI should be pressing producers to implement better safety standards for all stunt sequences performed in the industry. Thus far, however, there has not been much pressure on producers or the producers' council on this matter — given the way power is skewed in the industry, FEFSI is forced to save its negotiating edge to handle several other workers' issues. In such a situation, the onus to maintain the safety standards ends up on the stuntperson performing the risky action sequence. We have to remember here that most stuntpersons aren't formally trained or qualified to certify the safety standards of their own performances. Many of them, in fact, willingly put their own lives at enormous risk to ensure the sustenance of their families and themselves. In the event of their death, compensation is handed out — in the case of the Indian 2 incident, Shankar, Kamal Haasan and Lyca Productions handed over Rs 4 crore to the families of the deceased. But this cannot be the model for how the film industry functions. Handing out huge sums to the families of deceased stuntpersons cannot take the place of continuous investments and maintenance of better safety standards for all. As long as the current model works out economically, the industry will continue to function in the same way. The only solution is for the State or Union government to institute a Film Set Safety Standard Board that would inspect every film set and issue certificates based on the safety standards maintained. Such a board should be adequately equipped with manpower and expertise to examine, understand and advise on the safety standards of the film set or stunt sequences performed. And it should be made mandatory to get a clearance from the board to ensure the public release of a film. There was a time when film productions received backlash for mistreating animals during shoots. But today, to use animals in films or advertisements in India, filmmakers need to obtain pre-shoot permission and post-shoot clearance from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). And this has to a great extent ensured the ethical treatment of animals during film shoots. It is high time that safety standards are put in place, and enforced, so that stuntpersons don't have to place themselves in harmful situations to ensure that the audience gets the adrenaline rush it craves. The writer is a Chennai-based filmmaker
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Standoff in Tamil cinema disrupts several productions, High Court calls for mediation
A long-simmering conflict in the Tamil film industry, between producers and technicians, reached a crucial moment on Monday as the Madras High Court declined to issue interim relief against a non-cooperation protest launched by the technicians. In the conflict between the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) and the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), Justice K Kumaresh Babu, hearing a civil suit filed by TFPC against FEFSI, suggested that both parties recommend names of retired High Court judges who could be appointed as neutral mediators. The court has given until Wednesday for both sides to submit names. The producers had sought a stay on the FEFSI's protest, which has disrupted multiple ongoing film productions in the state. The FEFSI, an umbrella body representing 24 technicians' and film workers' unions, has been at loggerheads with the TFPC since the expiry of a three-year MoU on March 9. The MoU governed wages, working conditions, and cooperative norms between producers and technicians. In court, FEFSI's legal counsel, advocate G Mohanakrishnan, painted a stark picture of inequality in the Tamil film industry. 'Top actors are paid Rs 300 crore per movie, while technicians struggle to get even Rs 3,000 a day,' he argued, calling the situation untenable and exploitative. He further alleged that TFPC was attempting to undermine the livelihoods of Tamil Nadu-based technicians by importing workers from other states to continue film shoots stalled by the impasse. The producers' side, represented by advocate Krishna Ravindran, countered that TFPC comprises mainly small-budget filmmakers — not the few mega-budget producers driving exorbitant salaries for actors. He emphasised that TFPC had followed a consistent practice of signing MoUs with FEFSI every three years and was willing to renew the agreement, but was met with hostility and allegations instead. Central to the producers' grievance is the charge that FEFSI's protest has brought the industry to a standstill. 'Ongoing production works have been stalled, resulting in major financial losses,' said Ravindran. 'Technicians affiliated with FEFSI are refusing to cooperate, jeopardising the livelihood of hundreds of others involved in film projects,' he alleged. In April, the federation issued a circular to all its 23 affiliated unions, asking them not to cooperate with TFPC members. The move came after FEFSI accused TFPC of secretly backing a rival technicians' association — Tamil Nadu Thiraipada Thozhilalargal Sammelanam — in what it believes is an effort to splinter the organised workforce. The producers deny any link to the new association. 'TFPC has no involvement in setting up any rival union,' said Ravindran. But he did acknowledge that the deadlock had pushed some producers to explore working with a separate body, the Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA), as a workaround to continue stalled projects. As the impasse deepens, the Tamil Nadu government has taken note. Minister for Information and Publicity, M P Saminathan, is expected to step in to mediate talks, underlining the growing public and political pressure to resolve the conflict. In court, Justice Babu was firm in his observation that he could not compel FEFSI to resume work with TFPC, given that the binding MoU had lapsed. However, he did note that individual producers could pursue legal action if existing work agreements had been violated. He also expressed concern that both sides risk further erosion of goodwill and financial damage if the matter is not resolved swiftly. With both FEFSI and TFPC expected to submit their recommended names for a retired High Court judge to mediate, the coming week will be critical for whether this is going to be a step toward reconciliation or a deeper institutional rupture in Tamil cinema's labour landscape.
New Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Madras HC suggests appointing retired judge for mediation in producers-FEFSI tussle
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has suggested appointment of a retired judge of the court for holding mediation in the ongoing tussle between the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) and the Federation of Film Employees of South India (FEFSI), following the non-cooperation stir by the latter. Justice K Kumaresh Babu, while hearing a petition filed by TFPC seeking interim stay on the non-cooperation protest, asked both parties to submit the names of retired HC judges of their choice so the court can choose them for appointment as mediator. Subsequently, the judge posted the matter to Wednesday for further hearing. Senior counsels G Mohana Krishnan appeared for FEFSI and Krishna Ravindra represented TFPC. The producers council alleged that ongoing film production works were stalled due to the strike announced by FEFSI, with which 24 unions representing technicians and other employees of the industry are affiliated, resulting in non-completion of production works on time, incurring a huge loss to the producers. However, the counsel for FEFSI contended that the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) entered into with the producers in 2022 have lapsed and expired on March 9, 2025. The producers council has to sign fresh MoUs regarding remuneration and working conditions. He also stated that the technicians are paid less than Rs 3,000 per day by the producers, whereas, the lead actors are being paid around Rs 300 crore for a movie.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Cinema technicians, producers clash; HC suggests mediation
Chennai: The Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) has moved the Madras high court against the Tamil Nadu Film Producers Council (TFPC), seeking to stop the engagement of technicians from other states, which affects the livelihood of its members. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Admitting the plea on Monday, Justice K Kumaresh Babu suggested that the association recommend a retired judge of the court to mediate the issue. Representing FEFSI, advocate G Mohanakrishnan submitted that TFPC is trying to snatch the livelihood of Tamil Nadu technicians by engaging people from other states. Appearing for TFPC, advocate Krishna Ravindran contended that the association followed the practice of entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) once every three years with FEFSI regarding the fixation of wages. The last MoU, signed in 2022, ended on March 9, 2025. FEFSI alleged that TFPC promoted a rival association of technicians, the Tamil Nadu Thiraipada Thozhilalargal Sammelanam. Recording the submissions, the court observed that it could not direct the members of FEFSI to work with TFPC since the MoU expired on March 9. The court then suggested that both parties resolve their differences across the table by recommending names of two retired judges of the high court who could be appointed as mediators to resolve the issue. TFPC is allegedly taking steps to establish a new labour union as an alternative to FEFSI. This move comes after years of tension between the producers and FEFSI, which represents various film industry workers, including technicians, crew members, and other essential staff. As the existing agreement between the two parties was officially cancelled, producers have invited interested film workers to join the upcoming labour union.
Hans India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
South Indian Film Employees' Federation moves Madras HC over underpayment to technicians
Chennai: The simmering dispute over wages for film technicians in Tamil Nadu reached the Madras High Court on Monday, with the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) alleging that technicians are being pushed to the margins even as leading actors earn up to Rs 300 crore per film. Appearing before Justice K. Kumaresh Babu, FEFSI counsel G. Mohanakrishnan accused members of the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) of trying to 'snatch the livelihood' of local technicians by recruiting crews from other States to finish ongoing productions. He said technicians in the State often earn less than Rs 3,000 a day despite the industry's soaring top-line salaries. TFPC's counsel Krishna Ravindran countered that most of the council's members are small-budget film-makers, not corporate studios, and insisted the producers are 'equally concerned' about worker welfare. He pointed out that TFPC and FEFSI have traditionally signed a wage-fixing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) every three years, the last of which, inked in 2022, expired on March 9 this year. According to Ravindran, relations deteriorated when FEFSI, suspecting TFPC of backing a breakaway technicians' body called the Tamil Nadu Thiraipada Thozhilalargal Sammelanam, issued a non-cooperation directive on April 2 to all 23 of its affiliated craft unions. The order, he said, triggered walk-outs on sets and 'significant monetary losses' to producers as projects stalled. Ravindran added that FEFSI has since begun collaborating with a separate producers' faction, the Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA), prompting the State's Information and Publicity Minister M. P. Saminathan to step in and convene talks. Justice Babu observed that, with the MoU no longer in force, the court could not compel FEFSI members to work on TFPC-backed films. At the same time, he noted that individual producers remained free to sue crew members for breach of existing work contracts, if any. Stressing the need for an amicable settlement, the judge urged both sides to nominate, by Wednesday (July 2), two retired High Court judges who could act as mediators. 'Given the tight production schedules and the livelihoods at stake, it is in everyone's interest to resolve this across the table,' Justice Babu said before adjourning the matter.
