Work on Tamil films in production came to a grinding halt on the second day of the indefinite strike called by the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), which is locked in a tussle with the Tamil Film Producers' Council (TFPC) over a number of issues, including wages.
While sources said some film units managed to continue shooting despite the strike on the first day of FEFSI's action, reports from different parts of the state said film shooting had, by and large, come to a grinding halt on Day 2.
With both sides unwilling to relent, FEFSI president R K Selvamani today called on superstar Rajinikanth, whose film Kaala Karikalan's shooting too has had to be stopped because of the strike.
Rajinikanth, in a statement issued after the meeting, said, "Strike is one of the words that I dislike. No matter what the problem is, without bothering about egos and keeping in mind public welfare, we can find a solution with loving words. As a senior artiste, it is my loving request that the producers' council and FEFSI meet and talk and find swiftly a smooth and acceptable solution to the problem."
The superstar's request comes at a time when work on at least 40 Tamil film projects is in a limbo. It remains to be seen if both film bodies pay heed to his request.