The wage dispute between the Telugu Film Industry Employees’ Federation and the Telugu Film Producers Chamber has been ongoing for the past couple of days with no resolution in sight. The Federation is seeking a 30% hike for workers across 24 departments, a demand the Chamber has so far resisted. Since August 4, the Federation has been halting shoots that have not confirmed the new wage structure in writing.
In response, the Chamber recently announced that producers can hire skilled workers from outside the Employees’ Federation, citing concerns over high membership fees and barriers for new entrants. While this move has stirred debate in the industry, most leading production houses have remained silent on how the standoff is affecting their schedules.
On Wednesday in Hyderabad, Mythri Movie Makers, producers of Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh, broke their silence while promoting the Telugu release of the Kannada hit Su From So, releasing on August 8 in the Telugu states.
Responding to questions about the strike’s impact, Mythri stated their shoots are continuing as planned. They confirmed that Ustaad Bhagat Singh is currently on set, with Pawan Kalyan’s portions expected to wrap in a week, and the remaining shoot to be completed in about 25 days.
This comes amid reports that Federation representatives had recently visited the film’s set and attempted to disrupt filming. The producers clarified that the shoot went ahead without interruption.
When asked about the Chamber’s suggestion to hire non-union workers, producer Naveen Yerneni said they are exploring the option if it proves beneficial but refrained from commenting directly on the wage negotiations.
With one of the industry’s biggest production houses confirming progress on its schedules, it’s clear some shoots are moving forward despite the impasse. However, the broader standoff between the Federation and producers continues to threaten timelines for multiple projects, and the coming days will be crucial in determining whether a settlement is reached.
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