Tamil Film Producers Council exempts actor Vijay's next film, three others from ongoing strike — here's why

The Tamil Film Producers Council has clearly instructed its members that there should be no film shoots from 16 March in Tamil Nadu. The body also allowed films which are progressing outside the state to continue shooting until 23 March. But today, J Satish Kumar (of Kuttram Kadithal, Thanga Meenkal, and Taramani fame) created a storm on Twitter by exposing that the shoot of actor Vijay’s upcoming film with AR Murugadoss is happening in Victoria Hall.

Satish also questioned on the unity of producers and asked how Tamil Film Producers Council allowed team Thalapathy 62 to shoot in Chennai.

In his statement, Satish raised questions on TFPC’s partiality for Thalapathy 62 because the film has big names like Vijay, Murugadoss and Sun Pictures.

As soon as Satish tweeted, rival fans of actor Vijay started trolling the actor and his film unit for not working together for the welfare of the industry. Netizens also started spreading rumors that Sivakarthikeyan’s Seema Raja shoot is progressing in Binny Mills, Chennai. Further, TFPC Secretary SS Durai Raj sent a clarification statement to all the producers and media.

Actor Vijay in a still from Mersal.

SS Durai Raj said: “As announced by us, our decision is to stop film shoots in Chennai from 16 March and units who are camped outside the city can continue shooting till March 23. Though various production houses approached us to exempt their films, we ordered them to stop the shoot on March 16. But Sun Pictures and three more producers including 18th Cross Pictures, Samuthirakani, and Anto Joseph explained their situation to us and after carefully examining their request, we permitted them to shoot for two to three days. Regarding AR Murugadoss-Vijay’s film with Sun Pictures, the team has hired 30% of stunt members from Hyderabad and they also told us that it’s tedious to get the action choreographer’s (Ram-Lakshman) dates so we allowed them to conduct the shoot for another three days”.

“The strike is for the betterment of the industry but at the same time, the council had to grant permission to these film units to safeguard the producers from financial burden. 18th Cross Pictures team is constructing a set in ECR, Samuthirakani and his team are staying in outdoor for Nadodigal 2, Anto Joseph (producer of Dulquer Salmaan’s Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal) obtained special permission to shoot in Delhi for a day”, explained Durai Raj.

Durai Raj asked producers to approach the council before posting any news to avoid unnecessary confusion.