CHENNAI, July 5: The simmering feud in the Tamil film industry took an ugly turn in Chennai on Saturday when, in filmy style, a section of the film employees led by stuntmen, went on rampage, disrupting a meeting of directors, injuring two policemen posted as security, and smashing the glass panes of a preview theatre and a leading director's car.However, contrary to a movie script, police reinforcements did come in time. The police force swooped down on the stunt artistes, arrested 340 film employees in all, who were later remanded to 15 days judicial custody.The directors, including leading lights like K Balachander and Bharatiraaja, squatted on the road in front of the preview theatre to condemn the attack on the directors.Transport Minister K Ponmudy rushed to the spot, and requested them to call off their protest, stating that a meeting would be held at the State Secretariat on Monday to sort out the issues. The Minister was deputed by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to bring the situation under control. Thereafter, the directors went back to the theatre to continue their meeting.Trouble began when the section of film employees owing allegiance to the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) assembled in front of the Manorama Preview theatre in Seethammal Lane, Teynampet, off arterial Anna Salai.They had essentially come there to protest against the decision of the South Indian Film Directors Association (SIFDA) on Friday to launch two new organisations - one for creative craftsmen and the other for Tamil film employees - which were aimed against FEFSI.The Tamil film directors and producers had not been engaged in film production for over 25 days in protest against the actions of FEFSI which they said unleashed terror against directors. Some members had decided to come out of the FEFSI fold and start separate organisations exclusively for Tamil film employees.A quarrel ensued between some FEFSI members and directors who sought to prevent the former entry into the theatre where the directors' meeting was on. A skeleton force posted at the entrance of the theatre was ill-equipped to deal with the situation.As often depicted in films, the stuntmen brushed aside a sub-inspector and three constables placed there on duty to guard the directors. Two of the constables fell to the ground as they were pushed by the stuntmen.Glass panes at the entrance of the theatre were smashed by the film employees. Pots and stones came in handy for these artistes.However, police reinforcements rushed to the spot and quickly brought the situation under control. Stunt artistes led by Judo Rathnam were picked up and removed from the scene. They were taken to a kalyana mandap in nearby T. Nagar, where the employees continued their unruly behaviour.
