CHENNAI: Accusing the BJP of
politicising cinema
, the Film Employees' Federation of South India (FEFSI) on Saturday lashed out at the party for protesting outside Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), opposing shooting of Vijay's movie 'Master' on
NLC
premises. The income tax department had conducted searches on Vijay's premises over the last few days.
Former Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan said the NLC management should not have granted permission to shoot the movie as it is prohibited area. BJP former MP L Ganesan said the agitation was not targeted against the actor. NLC should not permit shooting of any movie on its premises, said Ganesan.
The crew had obtained NLC permission for ten days' shoot. "Tamil cinema is affected badly by your small deeds, smacking political vendetta. Don't bring politics into cinema," FEFSI president R K Selvamani said, questioning the rationale behind the protests when 16 film shoots had taken place in the 25 years with the permission of NLC. Such protests would force stars to move into other states for movie shoots. It would deprive people in the industry in
Tamil Nadu of their livelihood, said Selvamani.
"We have lost Rs 1,000 crore in the last three years which should have been spent on Tamil workers. Among the top stars, only Vijay does film shoot in Tamil Nadu. Others like Rajinikanth and Ajith shoot in other states, citing problems either from the government or from parties," the director said. Wondering why the BJP did not protest when the shoot was going on for five days, Selvamani appealed to the BJP to look at cinema as an industry that was giving employment to thousands of people.