Hyderabad: The oppression of Telangana film and TV workers continues unabated, with Andhra film tycoons continuing to dominate the industry, and government officials failing to intervene. Workers in the state’s entertainment sector say they are crushed under the weight of exploitation, with no sign of relief in sight.
Despite the promises made under the bifurcation law, which was supposed to address the issues of workers in Telangana, the law has yet to be implemented effectively. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that Telangana’s film and TV trade unions are not recognized, leaving workers without a legitimate platform for advocacy or support. Workers claim that those who attempt to join or form Telangana-based unions face harassment and physical violence
“The Andhra film trade unions have waged a campaign to discredit and undermine the Telangana unions,” one worker said. “They’re telling everyone that Telangana unions are invalid, and if you try to stand up for telanagna unions, AP unions make telanganana workers life miserable.”
There is no official chamber for Telangana workers, and the current federation representing the industry in the state is described as fake and ineffective. Workers say that, despite their efforts to raise awareness, there is no one in power who seems willing to listen to their concerns about fraud, exploitation, and racketeering in the industry.
The lack of support from local government officials has only intensified the situation. Previous administrations ignored the problems faced by Telangana’s film workers, and it appears that the current leadership is no different. Despite the expectation that Telangana leaders, including Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, would advocate for the rights of the state’s workers, they have instead met with Andhra film bosses, offering them appointments and invitations. At the same time, the issues facing Telangana’s workers were left unaddressed.
“Where is the Telangana Cinematography Minister in all of this?” asked one frustrated artist. “Why is he not speaking out for us? The Andhra bosses continue to dominate us, and our own ministers do nothing. Maybe they should just rename him the Andhra Cinematography Minister.”
In addition to labor exploitation, the oppression faced by Telangana film workers also extends to cultural erasure. Telangana actors and artists have raised their voices against the ongoing mockery of the Telangana dialect. Characters speaking in Telangana slang are often dubbed by Andhra actors, further undermining the region’s cultural identity. For many workers, this is yet another reminder of the systemic disregard for Telangana’s cultural and artistic contributions.
But it is the financial exploitation of workers that has sparked the most outrage. Workers report that they are made to work for long hours without receiving their dues, and when they demand their wages, they are often met with threats. Some workers say that Andhra bosses resort to intimidation tactics, such as involving rowdy sheeters or filing false legal cases, in order to silence any complaints.
For more than four decades, Telangana workers have endured this cycle of exploitation, with little hope for change. While the workers continue to suffer, the question remains whether authorities will ever take action to address the widespread abuse.