Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Telugu Dancers' Union Holds Elections Despite Federation Boycott Threat
In the Telugu movie industry, dancers have their own club called the Telugu Film & TV Dancers Association.
A bigger group called the Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation told this club that it would not help them anymore.
The bigger group was upset because the dancer club was not following its advice, even after a famous movie star named Chiranjeevi tried to help.
Even though the bigger group said it would not support the election, the dancer club held its election anyway.
Only about 120 out of about 600 members came to vote, which is about 20 out of every 100 members.
Six people got important jobs in the club without any competition, including the general secretary and the treasurer.
The bigger group said that other film workers' groups, like camera, editing, and fighters' unions, will also stop supporting the dancers.
The fight started when two choreographers, Jani Master and Sekhar Master, disagreed with each other.
Now it has become a big disagreement between the whole dancer club and the whole federation.
The Telugu Film & TV Dancers Association, led by Ms. Sumalatha, held elections from 9 am to 5 pm despite the Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation's boycott threat.
Only about 120 of the union's roughly 600 members voted, approximately 20 per cent of the membership.
Six of the ten executive committee members who recently resigned were elected unopposed, including general secretary and treasurer.
The Federation said it will no longer support the Dancers' Union or negotiate its wage issues after alleging its advice was ignored despite Megastar Chiranjeevi's intervention.
The Federation warned that the remaining 23 affiliated crafts, including camera, editing and fighters' unions, will not support the Dancers' Union.
- Who
- The Telugu Film & TV Dancers Association, led by Ms. Sumalatha, and the Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation (TFIEF).
- What
- The Dancers' Association held its elections despite the Federation's boycott threat; six recently resigned executive committee members were elected unopposed.
- When
- The elections were held on the day of reporting, from 9 am to 5 pm.
- Where
- Not specified in the article; the dispute concerns the Telugu film industry.
- Why
- The union defied the Federation after it withdrew support over alleged defiance, including the failure to revoke suspensions of some members despite Chiranjeevi's intervention.
Dancers' Union
TFIEF (Federation)
Election legitimacy
Dancers' Union
The union conducted its elections on schedule, with six members elected unopposed to key positions.
TFIEF (Federation)
The Federation and the majority of members boycotted, saying the union was defying its decisions and ignoring advice.
Support and wage negotiations
Dancers' Union
The union continues to function independently and proceed with its internal affairs.
TFIEF (Federation)
The Federation withdrew support and said the remaining 23 affiliated crafts will not support the union or negotiate dancers' wage issues.
Member suspensions
Dancers' Union
The union kept the suspension of some of its members in place.
TFIEF (Federation)
The Federation objected to the failure to revoke the suspensions and cited continued defiance as a reason for withdrawing support.
- Union
- Telugu Film & TV Dancers Association
- Union leader
- Ms. Sumalatha
- Federation
- Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation (TFIEF)
- Election turnout
- About 120 of ~600 members (~20%)
- Unopposed winners
- 6 of 10 resigned executive committee members, incl. general secretary and treasurer
- Federation's action
- Withdrew support; 23 affiliated crafts won't back the union; no wage negotiations
- Dispute origin
- Disagreement between choreographers Jani Master and Sekhar Master
- Chiranjeevi's role
- Megastar Chiranjeevi intervened, but his advice was reportedly ignored