’Bidaai’ blues

The otherwise busy unit of 'Sapna Babul Ka… Bidaai' (Star Plus) came to a standstill recently when they were forced to stop working by members of a labour union. The unit, which was rushing against deadlines suffered a great loss of time.

A source on the sets reveals, "The owner of the studio (Limelight, Bhandup) was getting a set erected on the premises. The labourers he had hired were not members of the Film Studio Setting and Allied Mazdoor Union (union for light men, spot boys and setting department). Incidentally, according to industry rules, all cast and crew hired should belong to their respective unions.

So, when the Mazdoor Union came to know of this, they raided the studio and as a protest, prohibited all labourers and unit hands from working until the studio representatives agreed to hire their labourers."

When contacted Rangarao Chaughule, general secretary of the Mazdoor Union said, "We had sent one of our field officers to the studio for inspection. But, he wasn't allowed to enter. This angered us and hence we ordered everyone to stop working."

A representative from the production house (Director's Kut) said on conditions of anonymity, "The labour problem was on the adjacent set. But even we got penalised."

When quizzed about the loss in time caused to the unit of 'Bidaai' Rangarao said, "It was unintentional. We just wanted to protest about the fact that our field officer was not allowed to enter the premises." TheLimelight Studio representatives could not be contacted for their version of the story