Merit took a backseat: Tollywood calls for fairplay at crucial meet

As allegations of political interference and an entrenched “ban culture” continue to surface in Tollywood, several prominent figures have spoken up about the atmosphere of fear and coercion they claim plagued the industry in recent years. At a meeting held at Technicians’ Studio on Wednesday, attended by representatives from nearly 26 guilds, actors, directors, producers and technicians alleged that merit was often overshadowed by political allegiance, while many claimed they faced threats, bans and pressure to conform in order to survive professionally. Call to actionCalling for a more democratic work environment, actor-politician Rudranil Ghosh claimed the industry had, for years, operated under an atmosphere of intimidation, arbitrary bans and political pressure, where several individuals were forced to align themselves politically to safeguard their livelihoods. Actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay said “our primary profession should be cinema” and not political ideology, while filmmaker Srijit Mukherji maintained that disagreements within the industry should be resolved through dialogue, asserting that “banning someone cannot be the solution”. Several others from the industry also spoke about restrictive rules, dwindling opportunities and an environment that deeply affected Tollywood. Many also alleged that fear of professional isolation and loss of work had prevented several industry insiders from speaking up.