Why is the Producers Council powerful?
The Council is where the fate of a film is decided, ensuring its smooth completion and release. The Council, which was established in 1979, currently has over 1000 voting members. About 110 of them are said to be contesting in the upcoming elections for various posts, an indication of how important it is to be an office bearer. The unwritten rule is that a producer needs to be a council member for his film to release on the scheduled date. Rival factions allege that current president Kalaipuli S Thanu was able to procure tax benefits for his big-budget films Kabali and Theri because of his post. Holding a key position in the Council also ensures proximity to the state government and the benefits it entails. Such is the power of the Council that there are allegations being made that freebies and bribes are exchanging hands to garner votes.
NEW DELHI, 19/01/2017: Tamil Superstar Vishal Krishna Reddy addressing a Press Conference demanding the lift of ban on Jallikattu, in New Delhi on Thursday.
Photo: Sandeep Saxena
Backers: Gnanavel Raja, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj and SR Prabhu
I decided to become active after seeing the widespread incompetence of the Council. I felt it was time someone saves our industry. If the Council members had implemented at least three or four things they had promised, we wouldn’t have had to contest.
My competitor, Radhakrishnan, is a producer who made his last film 20 years back. That’s the same case with KR too. I agree I am an actor first, but the other two are just ‘acting’ as producers. I’m contesting against two redundant producers who don’t know the current scenario of making films and the challenges we face today.
After we come to power, it will be possible for a producer to register a title within one minute. My priority is bringing down the cost of producing a film and requesting the government for subsidies to aid producers. I will also ensure we sanction pension for struggling producers. As for allegations about me not having time for this new role, ask any youngster today and he will tell you the importance of multitasking.
Backers: SA Chandrasekhar, AM Rathnam, AL Alagappan and PT Selvakumar
There’s a history behind every sangam in Kollywood. The Producers Council, for one, was established only to counter the interference of actors. And now, it’s all coming back. Despite strict guidelines, some actors have managed to go to Court and get a clearance.
I believe my experience as a producer, for four decades now, will help me fight for their cause. I fail to understand Vishal’s ambitions in contesting these elections – it seems to be a decision solely based on taking revenge against some producers who’ve upset him.
My motivation in contesting these elections, however, is simple: to stop the wrong-doings in the past and do good work for the Council.
Also, where’s the time for busy actors to devote for the Council? There are issues here on an everyday basis. But all this doesn’t mean that we will treat Vishal as an enemy once we win this election; we will hear his grievances too and work as a team.
Backers: Kalaipuli S Thanu, PL Thenappan and T Siva
The elections have gained importance only because of the interference of actors. With their interference, the media seems to be making a lot of noise – but the voters do not feel the need to include an actor in the fray. They feel that the Producers Council is a separate body with distinct characteristics. They also feel that actors ought to concentrate on the activities of the Nadigar Sangam.
In the past too, actors such as MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Vijaykanth, Sarath Kumar and Radharavi have not meddled with the affairs of the Producers Council. But it looks like Vishal has political ambitions, and wants to create some kind of commotion every time an election takes place.
There’s no katta-panchayat that happens in the Council, as some people believe. It is a place to sort out issues in an amicable manner. That’s how many films, including some of Vishal’s own, have hit screens. Komban is another example of how the Council ensured its smooth release.
