The world of the film industry is a dream career of any layman. Fame, stardom, luxury, and money might be its reasons. To excel in their profession, some would burn their midnight oil and mark from scratch by doing minute jobs, discovering sleepless nights, and whatnot. Also, some don’t look up to the stars, work at their level best, and are expected an amount for their daily chores. The description is meant for people who are ‘behind the spotlight’, a slice of the industry where both extremities of expecting passion and self-determination meet.
It is an eye-opening effort from the latest ‘Hema committee report’ which talked especially about the atrocities against female artists and the casting couch in the Malayalam film industry, the issue of late, less or no payment given to the assistant directors and daily wage workers is a terrible situation happening in the context. As suggested by the report, this has not been novel in action. This is scary and serious at the same time.
There can be several measurements that can be practiced to ensure no such discrepancies happen. A group of officials for labour welfare can be set up by the Government and this initiative should be responsible for its proper audit, investigation, and regulation of law under its circumstances. The film producer(s) should inform the number of workers, especially the daily wage workers and assistant directors present before and after their shooting and post-production procedures.
The complaint of the worker is the priority and this should be made sure of not being delayed. Also, as the ex-chairperson of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde quoted- “Equal pay for equal work”, there shall be no partiality among workers unless the market demands.
This matter reminisces about the title credit sequence song from Zoya Akhtar’s Hindi movie named ‘Luck by Chance’ (2009) which shows the evolution of people being audience for a cinema theatre. These hardworking but unseen workers are the ones who are responsible for brightening the ‘spotlight’ on what the audience perceives.