Tamil film artistes to go on strike

Cinematographer-director Thangar Bhachchan is in the eye of a storm following his reported offensive remarks against actresses in general and actress Navya Nayar in particular at a public function in Chidambaram recently.

In protest, the South Indian Film Artistes Association headed by Vijayakanth, and Sarath Kumar, have, in a press statement, announced that the actors and actresses would not participate in any film shooting from August 29 (Monday) unless Thangar Bhachchan tenders apology.

The Artistes Association has also lodged a complaint with the FEFSI (Film Employees Federation of South India).

Thangar Bhachchan had organized a function at Chidambaram to release the audiocassette of his latest Tamil film "Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy". (Bhachchan himself has directed and played the lead role in the film pairing with Navya Nayar).

Speaking at the function, Bhachchan reportedly made a remark that Navya Nayar had postponed her shooting schedule just because some small money (Rs. 600) was due to be paid to her and a woman hairstylist.

This remark in public infuriated the FEFSI (film employees body), which directed its members to keep off dubbing of Bhachchan's film. Not stopping with his Chidambaram remarks, Bhachchan allegedly stated in an interview to a weekly magazine that" actresses who work only for money are no worse than prostitutes."

This 'indecent remark' by Bhachchan greatly agitated members of the Film Artistes Association, the actresses in particular. The FEFSI has sent a letter to the Artistes Association demanding immediate action against Bhachchan.

As the FEFSI office-bearers were exercised over the issue, the editing and dubbing work relating to "Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy" came to a standstill.

The Tamil Film Producers Association intervened and brought about rapprochement between Bhachchan and the FEFSI facilitating resumption of the work on "Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy".

In this background, Vijayakanth and Sarath Kumar of the Film Artistes Association on August 27 issued a joint statement in which they said that Bhachchan's abusive remarks and criticism hurt the feelings of the members of the association and humiliated them. Bhachchan had been doing this at public functions, through the media and writings for some time now, and his remarks were unprintable, his statements should not be allowed to go on, the statement added.

Vijayakanth and Sarath Kumar in their statement referred to Bhachchan's disparaging comments at the Chidambaram function and said this hurt the feelings of both senior and junior artistes and, in fact, the entire artistes community.

Vijayakanth and Sarath Kumar said Bhachchan had not so far met the office-bearers of the their association and given an explanation. In order to ensure that in future no artiste is subjected to the kind of criticisms Bhachchan had mounted on some artistes and to find a solution to the conflict created by Bhachchan, the artistes association decided that no actor or actress should participate in film production from Monday (August 29).

When contacted A.L. Azhagappan, secretary of the Film Producers Association, for his reaction to the strike decision, he said his association no doubt agreed that if Bhachchan had spoken wrongly, he would apologize. But work should not be affected and the issue should be sorted out smoothly.

However, if the artistes responded to the strike call issued by the Artistes Association, the Producers Association will meet and deliberate on the next course of action, Mr. Alagappan said.

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Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy