Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; May 16, 2014)

"Mithun Chakraborty needs to wake up and smell the coffee,” said Vikas Mohan, senior vice-president, Indian Film and Television Producers Council at a press conference called by all producers’ bodies on Thursday.

These producers’ bodies had gathered in order to condemn the workers’ strike. Given that Mithun Chakraborty is the chairperson of Film Studio Settings and Allied Mazdoor Union, producers demanded that he take strict action against erring members of the workers’ organisation.

Ashoke Pandit, who heads the Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association, said, “So many of our members have gone and met Mithun Chakraborty in order to complain about association chairman Gangeshwar Srivastav’s extortionist behaviour but he does not seem to listen to us. We want Mithun to replace Srivastav with some one else.” TV producers too pointed out how they were incurring huge losses due to this strike.

Producer NR Paschicia said, “Even if one day of shoot is lost, it makes a big difference to us as we have strict deadlines that need to be followed.” Producer J D Majethia added that TV producers suffer the most and that such workers’ problems were only adding to their woes.

On the other hand, Dharmesh Tiwari, president, Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), reiterated that shoots should not extend beyond 12 hours. “We need to set up an enquiry into Monday’s incident where workers were allegedly assaulted by a production team. We should do so by calling both the parties but stopping shoots is no solution. I also request producers to work with the union and not with other political parties that are trying to make inroads into the film industry.”

Writer Kamlesh Pandey, general secretary, FWICE, says that their organisation has debarred Gangeshwar Srivastav for 15 years. “We issued several warnings to him for forcibly extorting money from producers. In fact, when co-member, Prem Singh Thakur, asked to look at the book of accounts, Srivastav had him ousted from the body. We want this racket to stop or else producers will be forced to declare free trade where they will work with people outside the union.”
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Rachana Dubey (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 16, 2014)

Following the disruption of shoots at Kilick Nixon Studios and Film City earlier this week, producers' bodies includ ing the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) have joined forces to condemn the Allied Mazdoor Union (AMU). Speaking against the union's secretary, Gangeshwar Shrivastav, they even named the producers who've bribed him in the past to avoid violence or disruption at shoots. A group of TV and film producers have also decided to meet with the police commissioner early next week and demand protection for their sets.

Ashoke Pandit, the official spokesperson, on behalf of the bodies, said, “We have to go to the cops. And maybe even move court and approach the CM. Gangeshwar was banned months ago but it didn't affect him. He's backed by actor Mithun Chakraborty, the Chairman of the AMU, who despite being informed about this nuisance, didn't act on it. The Federation (FWICE) has now suspended him and launched a non-cooperation movement against the AMU."

The AMU secretary had been suspended days before the incident at the Balaji Telefilms' set where he was bashed up by the Balaji staff when he disrupted the shoot. In response, he stalled shoots in Film City the following day which didn't agree with the producers' bodies. “In the guise of helping workers, he extorts money. A few days ago, he tried the same stunt with Sajid Nadiadwala who was shooting Kick at Mehboob Studios. Sajid seeeked help from MNS workers and resumed his shoot. Following that, J D Majethia has said that if Gangeshwar is not controlled now, the producers will have to resort to free trade whereby they will be free to use workers from any union which can politicise the industry unnecessarily,“ adds Ashoke.

Gangeshwar, who is unperturbed by his suspension, says, “Our demands are basic: food, safety and wages on time. But the producers bodies aren't addressing these concerns or even willing to discuss it. If need be, even we will move court for our rights"