Chaos reigns at Tamil Film Producers Council meet

Graft charges raised in first meeting after Vishal’s election as president

Cheran addresses mediapersons on Sunday.

The annual general body meeting of the Tamil Film Producers Council was mired in issues on Sunday after a section of members protested against its functioning and alleged corruption.

This is the first meeting after actor and producer Vishal was elected as the president of the council. Former High Court judge R.S. Ramanathan had been appointed by the Madras High Court to be an observer at the meeting.

A section of members led by actor and producer Cheran alleged discrepancies in the accounts of the council to the tune of ₹7 crore. Even as the meeting began, a few members interrupted the proceedings and went on the stage to air their views.

Outside the venue, Mr. Cheran told reporters that the meeting had abruptly ended. “In a meeting with 400 to 500 members of the council, why is no one being consulted. While a leader should stay and answer questions, Mr. Vishal just spoke and left and no one else got a chance to speak or bring up their concerns,” he said.

‘Diverting attention’

Reacting to the allegations, Mr. Vishal said that people with a grudge against him had resorted to creating chaos on stage after the meeting and diverting attention from issues that needed to be discussed. “While I agree that everyone should be given a chance to speak on stage, this cannot happen when people are hindering the proceedings of the meeting. People keep alleging that there is corruption but why have they not visited the council’s office and presented any evidence of the same?” he asked.

A section of the council’s members has also called for the resignation of Mr. Vishal from the council president’s post as he has decided to take a plunge in politics as well. A few days ago, the Madras High Court had restrained the Tamil Film Producers Council from taking a final decision on a proposal to amend its by-laws. The council had wanted to bring in a rule stating that only those who had produced and released at least three movies would be permitted to enrol in the association and exercise the right to vote in the elections to the council.