India has the largest film industry in the world, producing over 3,000 feature films annually. Despite this scale, government support for filmmakers, particularly in the form of subsidies, remains minimal. This lack of assistance is especially concerning for the daily wage workers who form the backbone of the industry.
As Maharashtra prepares for its Assembly elections on November 20, the Bollywood industry hopes the new government will introduce reforms to relieve financial pressures and improve conditions for daily wage workers. The plight of these workers gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic when the film industry came to a standstill, leaving thousands without income.
B.N. Tiwari, president of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), highlighted that despite repeated appeals to political leaders, little has been done to ensure job stability for daily wagers. Many are still struggling to recover from the economic setbacks caused by the pandemic. With over 4 million jobs created by the film industry, a large portion of which are for daily workers, their welfare and job security are long overdue.
The challenges extend beyond filmmaking. Movie theatres, already under pressure from the growing popularity of OTT platforms, are struggling to stay afloat due to rising operational costs. Theatre owners are urging the government for concessions on water and property taxes to ease their financial burden.
Support from the government could pave the way for the industry to experiment with more diverse and artistic storytelling, allowing the art form to thrive. As the elections approach, the industry and its workers can only hope for meaningful changes that address these pressing issues.