Telugu Producers Offer Gradual Wage Hike
Producer Prasad Malladi, who works on several small-budget projects, said that the increased wages have become a heavy burden and are affecting the feasibility of making such films.
By : BVS Prakash
Update: 2025-08-09 16:49 GMT
Hyderabad:Telugu film producers have expressed alarm over workers’ demand for a 30 per cent pay hike, but have agreed to a gradual increase spread over three years. Producers voiced concerns about the steep rise in production costs, which they attributed to the recent hikes in daily wages for technicians and production staff.
Producer Prasad Malladi, who works on small-budget projects, said the already increased wages were proving unsustainable, making it difficult to produce such films. The Producers Guild noted that unions' demand for a 30 per cent wage hike could further strain the production budgets.
Producers held their talks with leaders of the Telugu Film Employees Federation at the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce to resolve the deadlock. The discussions focused on balancing workers’ demands with the financial sustainability of producers.
Producers have offered a 25 per cent wage hike to be paid over three years. As per the offer, the workers earning less than `2,000 per day would get a 15 per cent raise in the first year and 5 per cent each in the second and third years. Those earning less than `1,000 per day would receive a 20 per cent hike in the first year and 5 per cent in the third year.
Te standoff took a legal turn with producer T.G. Vishwa Prasad issuing court notices to the workers federation’s president, general secretary and treasurer over a `1.5 crore loss he claimed to have incurred due to the strike.
Federation general secretary Ammiraju said members were upset at the legal action but stressed that their focus remained on the ongoing talks with producers. Federation former general secretary Rajeshwar Reddy clarified that the legal action was initiated by an individual and not by the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce.
Meanwhile, Chiranjeevi issued a statement denying claims that he had met federation representatives and agreed to their demands. “A few individuals claiming to be members of the Federation have gone to the media and falsely stated that I met them and agreed to a 30 per cent wage hike,” he said.
“I have not met anyone from the federation. This is an industry-wide issue, and no individual — myself included — can unilaterally give assurances or arrive at a solution. The Film Chamber is the apex body responsible for discussions and a fair resolution. Until then, I strongly condemn such baseless and motivated statements intended to create confusion among all parties. Please take note,” he added.
Earlier, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce had issued a directive to its members in response to the strike call, instructing producers, studios and allied sectors not to negotiate with striking unions until further notice. It also directed studios, outdoor units and infrastructure providers to withhold services without prior Chamber approval, warning against any action that could weaken the industry’s collective position.
Producers held their talks with leaders of the Telugu Film Employees Federation at the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce to resolve the deadlock. The discussions focused on balancing workers’ demands with the financial sustainability of producers.
Producers have offered a 25 per cent wage hike to be paid over three years. As per the offer, the workers earning less than `2,000 per day would get a 15 per cent raise in the first year and 5 per cent each in the second and third years. Those earning less than `1,000 per day would receive a 20 per cent hike in the first year and 5 per cent in the third year.
Te standoff took a legal turn with producer T.G. Vishwa Prasad issuing court notices to the workers federation’s president, general secretary and treasurer over a `1.5 crore loss he claimed to have incurred due to the strike.
Federation general secretary Ammiraju said members were upset at the legal action but stressed that their focus remained on the ongoing talks with producers. Federation former general secretary Rajeshwar Reddy clarified that the legal action was initiated by an individual and not by the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce.
Meanwhile, Chiranjeevi issued a statement denying claims that he had met federation representatives and agreed to their demands. “A few individuals claiming to be members of the Federation have gone to the media and falsely stated that I met them and agreed to a 30 per cent wage hike,” he said.
“I have not met anyone from the federation. This is an industry-wide issue, and no individual — myself included — can unilaterally give assurances or arrive at a solution. The Film Chamber is the apex body responsible for discussions and a fair resolution. Until then, I strongly condemn such baseless and motivated statements intended to create confusion among all parties. Please take note,” he added.
Earlier, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce had issued a directive to its members in response to the strike call, instructing producers, studios and allied sectors not to negotiate with striking unions until further notice. It also directed studios, outdoor units and infrastructure providers to withhold services without prior Chamber approval, warning against any action that could weaken the industry’s collective position.