Overview

• Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has appointed a mediation panel to negotiate between the Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation and producers
• The federation of daily-wage technicians is holding out for a flat 30% wage increase and has dismissed producers’ 15–20% phased offers tied to longer workdays
• Producers have countered with proposals for phased pay hikes, extended nine-hour shifts, scrapping extra pay for dual-language shoots and hiring non-federation workers
• The Telugu Film Producer Council is preparing to petition the Competition Commission of India to challenge the federation’s hiring monopoly and secure freedom to onboard non-members
• Venkat Reddy urged parties to show flexibility to meet Wednesday’s target for restarting halted film shoots