Kolkata: Tollywood has received a much-needed reset as the state’s new advisory on Thursday dismantled forced union/guild monopolies, eliminated discriminatory wage inflation for Hindi and international projects, and legally mandated strict shift caps, safety standards, and advised transparent written contracts. Technicians, however, want to wait for the Federation president and secretary election before commenting.The advisory, applicable to all film, television, OTT, web-series, and digital content productions done in Bengal, irrespective of the language of production, prioritised market freedom and structural autonomy, granting producers complete hiring freedom without unlawful disruptions. “The govt has taken all suggestions of producers and also taken into account the concerns of other stakeholders. Following this advisory will ensure that we have a professional working environment,” said producer Firdausul Hasan.Many outstation production houses often complained about discriminatory rates for technicians for films in other languages being shot in Bengal. The new advisory mentions that wage structures and applicable rates have to be administered transparently across Bengali, Hindi, English, and other language productions.Membership in any guild, union, or private association will no longer be a mandatory precondition for working in Tollywood. Producers have gained complete freedom to determine crew size, composition, and categories required based on actual operational needs. “This is a welcome step. Freedom to choose crews according to actual need can revive Bangla film production, attract investment and bring more shoots to Bengal,” said producer Himanshu Dhanuka, who faced multiple problems regarding employment of technicians in his productions in India and even abroad.However, technicians are unwilling to comment on this new system of work on the eve of their guild elections. “Five guilds are going for polls on Saturday and 11 on Sunday,” said Jayanta Kundu, the president of production manager guild.Many have, however, pointed out that the advisory has given equal weightage to the concerns of producers, technicians and actors. Non-payment of dues and forcing cast and crew to work for long hours have also been flagged.The advisory also focused on financial accountability by emphasising transparent written contracts before any work commences, enforcing timely payments, establishing mechanisms against defaulting line producers, and prohibiting payment disputes from halting film screening or distribution. “I have been insisting on contracts since the beginning of my career and I welcome this initiative,” said music director Prabuddha Banerjee.The advisory has regulated time and shifts by establishing standard shift caps. “We have been working for 18-20 hours a day for the last 12 months. Now, television serials are structured for up to 14 hours, subject to statutory limits, rest requirements, and overtime entitlements. Fiction and non-fiction productions are set at 10 hours with up to four additional hours, or eight hours with up to six additional hours. Feature films, OTT productions, and web series are designated an eight-hour shift with up to four additional hours. This advisory, if implemented, will benefit us a lot,” said actor Rupanjana Mitra.A minimum rest period of six consecutive hours had to be maintained between the conclusion of one day’s shooting and the start of the next. Overtime beyond the standard eight-hour shift for feature films and OTT projects has to be remunerated at twice the applicable hourly wage rate.Every production house is expected to adopt a written SOP detailing wage timelines, safety rules, and grievance protocols. Furthermore, productions are required to guarantee safe, hygienic working conditions, provide late-night transportation for crew members, and maintain a professional, harassment-free environment under strict POSH compliance.
