After prolonged negotiations, talks held on the advice of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy resulted in a breakthrough between the Telugu Film Employees Federation and the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce.
Published Aug 22, 2025 | 3:44 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 22, 2025 | 3:44 PM
Film shooting. (Creative commons)
Synopsis: The Telugu film industry is set to resume production after an 18-day strike by Tollywood workers was called off following the intervention of the Telangana government. As part of the agreement, workers will receive a phased wage hike.
The Telugu film industry is set to resume production after an 18-day strike by Tollywood workers was called off on Thursday, 21 August, following the intervention of the Telangana government.
The strike, which began on 4 August, brought the industry to a standstill as nearly 10,000 workers from 24 technical and craft departments, including lighting, camera and makeup, demanded a 30 percent wage hike.
The disruption stalled big-ticket films such as Ustaad Bhagat Singh and The Raja Saab, with industry estimates pegging the losses at nearly ₹100 crore.
After prolonged negotiations, talks held on the advice of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy resulted in a breakthrough between the Telugu Film Employees Federation (TFEF) and the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC).
As part of the agreement, workers will receive a phased wage hike. It will be 22.5 percent over three years for those earning below ₹2,000 per day and 17.5 percent for those earning between ₹2,000 and ₹5,000 per day.
Additional concessions include revised working hours from 9 am to 9 pm and the introduction of 1.5 call sheets on second Sundays for big-budget productions.
Telugu Film Employees’ Federation (TFEF) President Vallabhaneni Anil Kumar welcomed the outcome, thanking the chief minister and Additional Labour Commissioner for ensuring a “fair and balanced resolution.”
Producers also expressed relief. Filmmaker Dil Raju, who played a key role in the discussions as chairman of the Telangana Film Development Corporation, said a joint committee with representatives from both sides will be set up to address pending concerns within two months.
TFCC secretary KL Damodar Prasad said: “If the chief minister had not intervened, the strike may have dragged on.”
Veteran actor Chiranjeevi also contributed to easing tensions earlier this month, urging producers to resolve the issue amicably. His appeal, coupled with government mediation, helped defuse the standoff before it escalated further.
With the strike officially over, shooting schedules for major projects, including Allu Arjun’s collaboration with director Atlee and Ravi Teja’s Mass Jathara, are expected to restart immediately. The revival is seen as a crucial step in restoring momentum to Tollywood after the disruption.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
