Billa 2 shoot despite strike – Times of India

V Lakshmi

Chakri Toleti and the Billa 2 crew recently came under the FEFSI scanner, as they were shooting for the film in Hyderabad. While most of K-Town is waiting for the ongoing fracas to get settled, the question raised was if this team had the required permission to shoot and were not flouting the strike for which Kollywood is standing united. Producer Suresh Balaje says, “We wanted to finish some patchwork when a few FEFSI members came to the sets and expressed displeasure over us opting to shoot in spite of the strike. Our contract with the film city entails us to use their equipment and staff inside their premises. We have tried our best to avoid technicians whose wages are under dispute.”

Suresh claims that the unit is not going against any particular association. “We started Billa 2 long ago. We want to finish work on it and move ahead as we have other commitments. We didn’t shoot in Hyderabad to escape from the ongoing issue.”

Earlier, G Siva, general secretary, FEFSI, had stated that the association has actually not called for a strike and that filmmakers could go ahead with their shoots. But Kollywood came to a standstill to settle the issue first.

Source: Times of India (Dated: 16-2-2012)