The 47-day long strike by Tamil Film Producers Council ended Tuesday. The stir led by president Vishal ended with several benefits for Tamil film industry. He is now flooded with appreciations and laurels not just from honchos of Tamil cinema but also the Indian film industry in general. He is now hailed as a leader who stood ground and fought for the welfare of the industry in general.
Even those who pointed fingers at him for halting production, release and post-production among others are now pouring accolades for the results his protests have got for industry. Many hail that it is the best that Tamil cinema has got in the last five decades.
All started when Vishal as President of Tamil Film Producers Council fixed wages for FEFSI employees. At a crucial juncture, he halted production and held series of talks with FEFSI and streamlined everything. It was unimaginable untill then. This act won him confidence of the members of TFPC. They stood by him when he began his fight against Digital Service Providers and various other demands with theatre-owners, exhibitors and from the State Government in particular.
Today, the whole of Tamil cinema is happy and joyous. They say thanks to the efforts of the TFPC team led by Vishal, changes that are positive are visible and happening one after another. 100% computerised ticketing and transparency, 3 slabs in tickets with flexible ticketing within government allowed rates for the benefit of audience, 50% rate reduction on E Cinema which is more than half of the theatres in TN (D cinema prices will be fixed according to the Joint Action Committee of South India), among others are seen as brownie points that assures success for them.
Qube agreeing to the demand for Rs 5000/week and Rs. 10,000 for full run as well as Rs 250/show is seen as a major achievement. It has led to film industries in other languages also being benefited. This pricing structure will be tried for six months and before that time, we’ll either make this permanent or tell them this doesn’t work and revise the charges, said Vishal after talks with government and film bodies yesterday.
The achievements of this strike is reflecting in the whole Indian film industry. Vishal’s visions and determination has benefited all, say a section of producers who were up in arms untill recently against him.
