The recent developments in filmdom show the ugly side of trade unionism and cartels operating in filmdom. Sullan the Rs 8 crore film is locked up in a battle between the exhibitor- distributor groups. A woman makeup woman is not allowed to work since the union says that makeup is the sole preserve of men.

Sullan has been produced at the cost of Rs 8 crores. It is ready for release. The distributors of Dhanush’s other films on the floor have objected to the actor giving dates for Sullan and leaving other projects unfinished. The film is stalled. Distributors have issued a red card, which means any theatre owner defying this will not get any films in future. The theatre owners in three districts have opposed this. In this battle the producer is faced with mounting debts. In any democracy the distributors forming cartels and issuing ducats is illegal and against the law. Anybody is free to conduct his business within the purview of the law and no organization is empowered to issue such things as ban and red cards. No one who is not a member of the distributor association is allowed to sell his film directly to the theatres. A rare situation where the man who manufacturers a product cannot sell to his buyers.

At the same time if a distributor defaults in payment or does not keep his word there is no red card. A `panchayath’ is held and an arbitrary verdict given. The theatre groups fearing stoppage of films to their theatre are meek spectators. If a theatre owner keeps dues he gets a red card but if the distributor owes him money then it’s only a `meeting’. If a person has to act in films in roles other than as hero- heroine or villain then he/ she has to be member of the artistes association or the junior artistes association. If not they are shown the door. A membership costs Rs 50,000 onwards. Right from car drivers to persons washing the utensils has to be union members. There are 24 crafts in the film trade and all have unions. They fix the rates and Bata, which the producers have to agree. Even if the producer or director chooses a raw hand the payment for such job prescribed in union tariff has to be paid to the union. If a group dancer gives a lip movement then it’s categorized as acting. The women’s organization was shocked to hear that makeup union has kept its door closed to women. The reason being that if it was left open then everybody would prefer woman makeup. Even heroines are not allowed to have women makeup.

Above all the final hold on the producer is the dubbing union. However great or big the artiste they have to be member of the dubbing union. To protect the rights of workers the producer has to get NOC from all those who worked in the film and give it to the lab to get his film printed and released. With rising tariff and unreasonable demands of unions, filmdom is becoming a hell for producers.