After the talks between Fefsi and TFPC over wages failed, Fefsi announced an official strike from Saturday and reportedly shooting of 22 Tamil films have stopped.

The employees union also claimed that all the workers, including junior artistes, light men, stuntmen, art directors, dancers and others, returned to the city without participating in any shooting from Saturday morning.

In the meantime, producers announced that they would continue shooting with police protection. On Friday, the producers council members approached Tamil Nadu DGP Ramanujam, asking for "police protection" to continue shoots to avoid any possible mishaps.

Following this they were given police protection and shooting of several films, including Karthi's Alex Pandian, Karunaas' Ragalaipuram, Vikram's Thaandavam and Vidharth's Kaattu Malli took place in the city in different locations with several employees joining hands with the producers, agreeing to their terms.

Similarly, Bharathiraja's film was happening in Theni and Maniratnam's shooting took place in Kerala.

The producers were operating with members of the newly-formed employees union, called Tamil Nadu film employees welfare association(TNFEWA) which has been created by 21 members from different crafts.

A source from the council told DC that several of the members from Fefsi have come out and joined TNFEWA which has eventually led to the spilt of Fefsi.