While the Malayalam film industry has been in a flux for the past two weeks, after a factional feud led to a split in the Federation of Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) with the leading directors, actors and producers announcing the formation of a new group (MAMTA), the Indian Film Employees Confederation (IFEC) will hold a two-day meet on Tuesday in Chennai to decide on giving trade union status to MACTA.
The recognition and clearance of IFEC are necessary for shooting films, as the Malayalam film industry gets all its film processing work done in Chennai.
Meanwhile, reports said that veteran director Siddique, who heads the ad hoc committee to finalise the structure of MAMTA, have already sent a memorandum to IFEC stating that MACTA, led by general secretary Vinayan, has split and thus it should not be given a trade union status at the meet, because all those who are active in the Malayalam industry are now with MAMTA.
Veteran director Renji Panicker said that if IFEC, in case, recognizes MACTA as the trade union body in the industry, no film shooting would take place here because the new organization, which has the full backing of the producers association, will not make any new films.
However, the fears of the new organisation is that the Chennai meeting would be attended by Vinayan and four of his close aides by virtue of being the office bearers of MACTA. But Vinayan dismissed all speculations and said his organisation is official trade union for the industry.
"We have already been recognized as the trade union of the Malayalam film industry and the official papers for that would be handed over to us on that day. The agenda for the meeting is the crisis in the industry here. The new organization is not a trade union body and at no cost will I allow that to happen," said Vinayan.
Now, the entire industry is eagerly looking forward at the meeting in Chennai to know what would happen next! Stay with us for more updates!
