The AP Cine Musicians Union has decided to press for action against them during the ensuing general body meeting of the AP Film Industry Employees Federation to be held on second Sunday of this month. During the last meeting on December 8, the union had raised the issue of the musicians not cooperating with the Telugu film industry.
The four music directors have their base in Chennai and this deprives work for the musicians settled in Hyderabad. Once the music director takes membership, he would be bound to make use of the recording studios and use the services of the musicians here.
"We have told them that they can get musicians from Chennai, if necessary, but the recordings will have to be done here," Hemanth Kumar said. It is learnt that some of the music directors take up to Rs 40-50 lakh remuneration per film. All that it takes to get membership in the musicians union is Rs 25,000.
During a meeting in May 2013, the musicians union had decided to give time till August 15 for all music directors to take its membership. However, this could not be enforced because of the political developments in the state. It is learnt that the union has also identified nearly 60 music directors who live in Hyderabad but have not taken the membership of the union yet. They also will be required to take membership.
The A P Film Industry Employees Federation is expected to take up the issue with the Telugu film producers asking them not to take services of the Chennai-based music directors, if they do not comply with the rules. The A P state government gives subsidies to films for which work is done here but producers get the music done in Chennai and the A P Cine Musicians Union wants the A P Film, TV and Theatre Development Corporation not to give subsidies, as per the rules, if the work is not done in Hyderabad.
