FEFSI lays down controversial new rules for Tamil movies; filmmakers told to employ only Tamil artists, avoid shooting abroad

The Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) has also made it mandatory that filming should not occur in other states or foreign countries unless absolutely necessary.

By: Entertainment Desk

Kochi | Updated: July 22, 2023 02:49 PM IST

3 min read

tamil cinema, tamil cinema news, fefsi, fefsi new rules, fefsi rules, tamil film, tamil film news, tamil films, fefsi union

The new rules laid down by FEFSI dictates that only Tamil artists can be engaged in Tamil films. (Images: Screengrab)

Listen to this article

Your browser does not support the audio element.

The Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) has stirred up controversy by introducing a new set of guidelines for Kollywood. The new rule dictates that only Tamil artists can be engaged in Tamil films. Another rule mandates that filming must exclusively take place within Tamil Nadu.

The new rules were issued as part of a move to ensure members of the FEFSI remain employable within the industry, Manorama Online reported.

Also read | Lokesh Kanagaraj opens up about rumoured film with Rajinikanth, shares update on Kaithi 2

The federation has also made it mandatory that film shoots should not be conducted in other states or foreign countries unless absolutely necessary. Additionally, FEFSI has insisted that in cases where shoots exceed the scheduled time or the allocated budget, proper written communication must be provided to the producers concerned, along with appropriate reasons for the delay or budget overrun.

The organisation also stated that any violation of these rules will result in disciplinary action being taken, News18 reported. Directors have been told to take accountability for story copyright issues, if the story is written by them.

ICYMI | Tamil actor Abbas on quitting films, working as a mechanic and driving taxis in New Zealand

According to News18, members of the FEFSI faced difficulties in finding employment as Tamil films frequently cast stars and actors from other industries. Moreover, the shooting of many films in foreign locations exacerbated the issue, resulting in a scarcity of job opportunities for FEFSI members. Reportedly, these factors prompted them to draft stringent rules in response.

Meanwhile, this move has generated considerable backlash with numerous cinema viewers and industry experts voicing their opposition and disapproval of the regulations introduced by the federation.

Check out | Dhruva Natchathiram second single confirms the project is still alive

While industry tracker Sreedhar Pillai stated that the FEFSI demands were unreasonable, a netizen ridiculed the guidelines and noted on Twitter: “They forgot to add one more point: All Tamil movies should release only in Tamil Nadu.”

Story continues below this ad

An organisation that consists of technicians belonging to 23 different unions from various fields in the Tamil film industry, FEFSI reportedly has around 25,000 members.

From the homepage