It was in the mid of the last decade of 20th Century, Film Crafts Federation was formed out of some Producers problems faced by the new comers who wanted to join the Industry and also by the Producers who were almost forced and compelled by the Worker’s Bodies to employ the Artiste, Workers and Technicians who were the members of the respective Workers Bodies affiliated to Federation of Western India Cine Employees (F.W.I.C.E.). Not only this, they were taking the decision unilaterally without consulting the Producers, as hiking of the wages / remuneration as they wish unilaterally. The Producers were finding it very difficult to meet their demands and were discussing among them selves how to solve this problem which was challenging their existence more specially when the Returns at Box Office were dwindling.

There is old saying “Necessity is Mother of Invention” and it was the courage and foresightness of our late G. P. Shirke who was the then President of Western India Film Producers Association (WIFPA) proposed to their counterparts IMPPA, GUILD, IMPPTA that to counter the present Workers Bodies. It is better to float another workers organisation darraled to it and start to engage the members from that proposed Body when constituted.

The idea was liked and appreciated by all of them and soon they decided to float such organisation and it was the way the FILM CRAFTS FEDERATION was born. According to this decision, a committee was formed consisting of some Producers Directors, Producers Writers, Artiste Producers and active Technicians, Artistes / Workers and the committee drafted its own Memorandum and Articles of Association and Christianed the Body by name of FILM CRAFTS FEDERATION,M/s. S. G. Kabra and Co. were engaged for the job of getting newly drafted the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association approved and get the Body registered under Indian Company Acts under Section 25C. And it was on 31st May 1995 we got the certificate of our Incorporation from the Registrar of Companies, Maharashtra under Registration No.11-88979-95.

After acquiring certificate a committee was formed under the Chairmanship of our Late G. P. Shirke. The Federation started enrolling members, I.M.P.P.A. consented to start the activities of FILM CRAFTS FEDERATION from their premises of I.M.P.P.A. House, Pali Market, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Road, Bandra West, Mumbai – 400050. In order to see that only genuine Technicians, Artistes and Workers were admitted, the applicants were interviewed by a committee consisting of Artistes, Technician and Workers and only if they proved their credentials before the committee, they were admitted as members. It was in the year 1996 we started to issue Identity Cards despite a big opposition from the the nexisting Workers Organisations.

Thus from the very beginning we faced a big challenges and opposition as the workers bodies were using their full power not to allow our members to work. Despite this our members co-operated with us, faced the difficulties and managed to get some jobs in the Films, but the strife continued. The main drawback with us was the problem of office accommodation as we were working and managing our affairs from I.M.P.A.A. premises only on 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the months, the days they were officially closed and with only part time workers who were I.M.P.P.A’s employees. Our work was restricted only to two on Saturdays and it affected our personal contact with our members.

Any how every organisation has it teething trouble in the beginning which we had also. It was felt that many aspirants from Northern India are keen to join us to try their luck in Film Industry. As entry in other Workers association were charged for then and over above which the enrolment charges were so high that couldnot be met by new entrant so we decided to open a branch office at Lucknow in 1998 with the help of WIFPA, who consented to let us function from their premises at Regency Towers, 1st Floor Shivaji Marg, (Hewett Road), Lucknow -226018. We also opened a Bank Account at Federal Bank, Lucknow and it worked out well. Slowly and silently we were just started to assert ourselves and our members were being engaged by the Producers quite liberally. We received a big blow with the sad demise of our beloved and most respected Chairman Shri. G.P. Shirke in the beginning of 1999.In the condolence meeting in his memory every one praised him for his kindness, courage, foresight and will to face the problems and solve them with an open mind and conviction and vowed to complete his movement launched in form of FILM CRAFTS FEDERATION as it was a weapon to counter the high handedness of arrogant bunch of existing Trade Organisations. But as the days passed, many of the Executive Members started to deter under the pressure of opposing groups to such an extent that many of the Executive Committee Members started to plead to terminate the activities of FILM CRAFTS FEDERATION.

On seeing such a move by some Executive Members, the Secretary quietly met Shri. Sangram Shirke, Director Member and son of Late G. P. Shirke and who was having his office at Rooptara Studio, D. P. Road, Dadar East, Mumbai 400014 and pleaded with him to allow FILM CRAFTS FEDERATION to function from his office at Rooptara Studio, D. P. Road, Dadar East, Mumbai 400014, as in the prevailing circumstances, it was almost impossible to continue the activities from IMPPA Office and we shall be compelled to close down the functioning of brain child of Sh. G. P. Shirke. consequently he agreed and a meeting of Executive Committee was called at Rooptara Studio in which the then Chairperson, Smt. Sushama Shiromanee resigned and in her place Shri. Sangram Shirke was elected as Chairman of FILM CRAFTS FEDERATION

So, it was in the first quarter of 2000 FILM CRAFTS FEDERATION started to function from Rooptara Studio, D. P. Road, Dadar East, Mumbai 400014, but the difficulties did not stop here. When we were slowly consolidating our place in the Film Industry. The Court Order through settlement between Rooptara, Proprietor and Tenants. We had to move out again to some place as we had to vacate the premises and fortunately enough Shri. Sangram Shirke purchased an office premises at G-9, Nootan Nagar, Co.op. Soc. Ltd., Guru Nanak Road, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050 and on the auspicious it was Gudipadwa day in year 2003. We started our activities from the Bandra Premises.

And from that day we did not looked back, slowly but surely we have a started to consolidated our position and keep ourselves in touch of in our members who may be facing some difficulties at their work place in Mumbai. We started Vigilance Committee for going around in studios and meet the workers to solve their problems. This step of ours brought us good results. Encouraged by the response, we purchased our own vehicle for the purpose going on rounds in January 2004.

And from that day we did not looked back, slowly but surely we have a started to consolidated our position and keep ourselves in touch of in our members who may be facing some difficulties at their work place in Mumbai. We started Vigilance Committee for going around in studios and meet the workers to solve their problems. This step of ours brought us good results. Encouraged by the response, we purchased our own vehicle for the purpose going on rounds in January 2004. Since we are a organisation for the welfare of the our members working in Film Industry. We started a Welfare Fund for helping our members and employees through medical help, financial aid for education to their children etc. The BYELAWS of the welfare fund are given separately along with Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association.

Later we purchased an ambulance in 2006 which was inaugurated by Shivsena Working President Shri. Udhav Thakrey for free use by our members in case they need it at time of emergency. We were also recognised under the Welfare Scheme Government of India being operated from Nagpur, Welfare Commissioner, Govt. of India, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Labour Welfare Organization, CGO Complex, Block ‘C’ 2nd Floor, Seminary Hills, Nagpur- 440006.

We have our own Dispute Settlement Committee through which we settle the dispute of our members and Producers and recover form their employees the arrears if any from them.

Now, we have also started a Insurance scheme under our Welfare Policy. We give a nominee of our member Rs.1,00,000/- from our own Welfare Fund to first six members in a financial year and for that it is necessary to fill separate form. The in specimen proforma of the form given separately along with Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association and Byelaws of the Association and Application Form for membership.

In short in our 22 years of existence. We are now a formidable force of workers. We were enrolling all groups and categories of Cine Workers, Technicians and Artistes. So that we can coordinate the activities of all the sections, groups and categories of Cine Workers Technicians and Artistes in the Film Industry.