Nadigar Sangam vs TFPC: South Indian Artistes Association slams Tamil Producer's Council for strike call, demands withdrawal

The South Indian Artistes Association has strongly reacted against the recent decisions taken by the Tamil Film Producers Council. The producers’ body had announced a one-day token strike on May 2, following its general body meeting held in Chennai. This was the first major meeting after the new office-bearers, led by Tamil Kumaran, took charge. While several resolutions were discussed, the strike announcement has now triggered a sharp response from the actors’ association.According to a report by Nakkheeran, Nadigar Sangam president Nassar sent a detailed letter to the producers’ council expressing disappointment. He stated that blaming the actors’ bodies without proper proof and using them as a reason for the strike was shocking and painful. He also pointed out that the association has always supported discussions to solve industry issues. Despite this, the sudden strike decision, without proper consultation, has created concern among actors and technicians.The actors’ association also clarified that there had been no official communication from the producers regarding revenue-sharing issues. They said no letters, emails, or meeting requests were sent to discuss the matter. Nadigar Sangam firmly stated that it has never encouraged strikes, as such actions affect the livelihoods of many people in the film industry. The association stressed that it believes in dialogue and mutual understanding rather than disruptions that impact daily wage workers.In its statement, Nadigar Sangam urged the producers’ council to withdraw the strike decision immediately. It also suggested that both bodies meet after the election results on May 4 to discuss issues in a calm and constructive manner. The association reminded us that a draft agreement had already been prepared earlier to ensure better coordination between actors and producers, but no progress had been made since then. It also expressed concern over recent reports that unfairly blamed actors for industry problems, urging the producers’ council to clarify or withdraw such claims.