Chennai, Aug 28 (PTI) The Tamil Film Producers Council on Friday said the proposed September 1 strike, which would have halted new film releases and shooting schedules, has been temporarily deferred.
Addressing the media here, TFPC president G K M Tamil Kumaran stated the decision follows state government assurances of a tripartite meeting to resolve ongoing industry disputes.
Reading from a joint memorandum, he noted the Information Minister Rajmohan has advised maintaining current release practices until the Legislative Assembly session concludes.
“The government has assured us that a tripartite meeting of producers, distributors, and theatre owners will be convened under the Chief Minister’s guidance to find a permanent solution,” Kumaran, who heads production at Lyca Production said.
He stressed that the initial strike was called only after three rounds of negotiations ended in a deadlock and the opposite parties refused their terms.
Responding to exhibitors’ demands for a mandatory eight-week gap between theatrical and OTT releases, Kumaran highlighted market realities.
“Waiting 56 days makes securing OTT buyers extremely difficult in the current climate,” he said, adding that early piracy leaks severely damage theatrical prospects well before the eight-week mark.
Kumaran questioned the viability of current business models, asking reporters how many of the roughly 250 films released this year were actually successful or acquired by streaming platforms.
Kumaran also rejected comparisons with Hollywood and Bollywood release windows.
He pointed out that unlike local producers, Hollywood films are exempt from Virtual Print Fees (VPF), and noted that Hindi films possess a nationwide market that Tamil cinema cannot directly be compared against.
Dismissing claims regarding the closure of standalone theatres to become marriage halls, Kumaran pointed to the rapid expansion of multiplexes, where single locations now frequently house up to 10 screens.
The strike deferral ensures ongoing projects, particularly those with crews currently shooting abroad, avoid financial disruption while the industry awaits an amicable government resolution, he added. PTI JR ROH
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