Dancers Union Elections On October 18, Under Federation Supervision?

The development comes after the All-India Film Employees Confederation reportedly issued a non-cooperation directive against choreographer Jani Master and Sumalatha Devi, president of the Telugu dancers’ union. The directive could make it difficult for them to secure work across the film industry.

“Jani Master and others may find it difficult to work in films in any language if the Confederation’s non-cooperation directive remains in place. The other 23 crafts are unlikely to work with producers who engage them, so it is not as simple as it may appear,” says a source.

Meanwhile, the Telugu State Film Employees Federation is reportedly preparing to conduct elections for a new body representing dancers and choreographers. Around 600 members are expected to participate in the election and choose a new president and other office-bearers. The new body is expected to be endorsed and supported by the Film Employees Federation.

“With the Federation and the Confederation working together for the welfare of all 24 crafts, there will be little room for groups that do not cooperate with the established bodies,” says the source.

Sumalatha Devi is reportedly planning to approach the court seeking a stay on the proposed elections. However, sources say stopping the process could prove difficult, as the Federation is the apex body representing film employees and is expected to take action against what it considers violations of its rules.

Anil Vallabhaneni, president of the Telugu Film Employees Federation and vice-president of the All-India Film Employees Confederation, is understood to be taking a firm stand against what the Federation considers indiscipline within the dancers’ union.

According to sources, Sumalatha Devi and a few members recently entered the Federation office and allegedly created a disturbance during a meeting. They reportedly left after Federation members and representatives of the Film Chamber insisted that proceedings continue without disruption. The meeting was reportedly focused on the formation of a new body and the conduct of elections.

Sources further claim that if the October 18 elections go ahead, the existing Sumalatha-led body could effectively lose its recognition, with the newly elected body expected to function in coordination with the Federation.

T Prasanna Kumar, secretary of the Telugu Film Producers Council, said producers would work with unions recognised by the Federation.

“Producers would work with the 24 unions under the Federation. The Chamber negotiates with the Federation and its recognised members, not with individual groups. The Federation and the Confederation are the supreme bodies,” he said.

Prasanna Kumar also said producers’ demands to remove the “double coordinators” system and a sharing ratio for hiring dancers had been addressed. He added that dancers’ wages would be set according to the state where the shooting takes place. “These measures will help reduce the costs for producers,” Prasanna Kumar added.