V. Sumalatha Devi, President of the Telugu Film and TV Dancers and Dance Directors Association, expressed strong objections to the alleged interference of Telugu States Film Employees Federation President Anil Kumar Vall hanani and Secretary Rayapalli Prasad in the internal affairs of her union.
She alleged that retaliatory action was being taken against her for questioning what she described as irregularities within the union.
Sumalatha Devi said she became the first woman president of the union in 30 years and alleged that she was being prevented from functioning peacefully.
She also demanded that the non-cooperation/suspension imposed on choreographer Johnny Master be withdrawn.
The allegations and demands raised by the union leadership are subject to verification and the positions of the concerned Federation representatives have not been included in the representation above.
Serious allegations have suddenly come to the fore regarding the authoritarian style of conduct in the film federation, the illegalities of Vallabhaneni Anil as the president of the Telugu states Film Employees Federation (Telugu Film Workers Federation), interference in unions, the election process, workers’ rights, and the affairs of the Chitrapuri Housing Society.
On the one hand, allegations of dictatorial tendencies are being made against the federation. On the other hand, many questions are being raised about the financial affairs, membership, house allocations, and investigation reports related to the Chitrapuri Housing Society. In the wake of these developments, the representatives of the film trade unions have approached the Telugu Film Chamber to discuss the matter.
Leaders of Chitrapuri Sadhana Samiti, representatives of 24 Crafts-Chitrapuri Colony victims, Telangana Joint Action Committee Film Wing, representatives of Osmania University, members of Telangana Cinema Vedika and others jointly submitted a petition to Telugu Film Chamber Secretary Ashok Kumar. They demanded immediate action against the developments they allege are taking place in the federation and a thorough investigation into the Chitrapuri affairs.
Telangana activist and senior journalist Pasham Yadagiri expressed his deep anger. He demanded that cases be filed against Vallabhaneni Anil Akramala, the president of the Film Federation, and that he be put in jail. He said that such fraudsters should not be left behind in Telangana.
Attempt to capture 24 crafts’
The comments made by Maddineni Ramesh, former secretary of the Directors Association, have made the matter even more serious. He alleged that the dominance of one person is increasing in the federation consisting of 24 trade unions. He alleged that he is interfering in the affairs of various unions like the Dancers Union, Women Workers Union, Production Executives Managers Union and creating differences in them. He alleged that money and votes are being exchanged during the federation elections and union elections. He said that an attempt is being made to bring the entire federation under his control by weakening the sections that are not in his favor and bringing people who are in his favor into various unions.
‘The federation has 26,000 workers… Are the decisions in the hands of a few?’
The representatives stated that the interests of about 26,000 workers are linked in 24 crafts. They said that in such a large system, there is a need to protect the democratic process, the independence of unions, and the rights of workers.
While the federation leadership was supposed to coordinate all the unions after the elections, allegations of creating differences, joining hands with rival factions, and acting contrary to the bylaws led to heated debate.
