Ravi Teja’s blockbuster Irumudi is in the news again, and this time it’s not about the box office. The Telangana Labour Department has issued notices to the film’s producers over a minor girl’s role in the shooting and promotions.
What the Labour Department Wants to Know
The department has asked the producers to explain several things about the girl’s involvement in the film:
- 1. Whether permission was taken from the District Magistrate
- 2. Whether 20% of her payment was kept in a fixed deposit
- 3. Details of her working hours on the sets
- 4. Steps taken to protect her education
- 5. Whether parental consent was taken
Inquiry Set for November 4
The producers have been asked to attend an inquiry on November 4 at 11 AM. They will have to answer the department’s questions and submit details at the hearing.
The Rules on Child Artists
Telangana has clear guidelines for children working in films and TV. Filmmakers need permission from the district authorities before casting a child. Working hours are limited, with mandatory breaks, and part of the child’s earnings must be saved in a fixed deposit until the child becomes an adult. Producers also have to make sure the shoot doesn’t affect the child’s schooling.
The notices are meant to check whether these rules were followed during Irumudi’s shoot and promotions.
A Father-Daughter Story
The child’s role is central to Irumudi, which is built around an emotional bond between a father and his daughter. Ravi Teja plays a doting dad in the family drama, directed by Shiva Nirvana and produced by Mythri Movie Makers.
Not the First Controversy
Irumudi released on August 21 and became one of Ravi Teja’s biggest hits, recovering its budget within days. But it has faced trouble before. Soon after release, the Andhra Pradesh Teachers Federation objected to the way the film shows a school principal and government schools, and demanded changes to some scenes.
The makers have not yet responded to the Labour Department’s notices.
