THE FILM industry, despite its innumerable flaws, continues to thrive, leaving thousands of youngsters aimless.

 

It is a misnomer to call the so-called film industry an industry, in the first place. It gains the status of industry, maybe due to its mammoth monetary involvement. It certainly calls for a huge amount to produce a film. From this particular point of view, the film industry, of course, meets the criteria of an industry. But if we look at the other pre-requisites to earn the status of an industry, the film industry remains far behind.

 

An industry does not only produce materials and generate opportunities for the common people, but also provides a security umbrella for the people involved in it. In any industrial sector, there’s a proper system for the new comers to join and comfortable perks for the people who retire. Film industry is the only industry where no system prevails for the freshers and the retired people of the film fraternity.

   

There’s no vacancy as such and there’s no retirement policy, yet the film market enjoys the status of an industry. Relations, instead of professionals, run this industry. It’s just the connection that works for a person that can put him in good stead. ‘The casting couch’ phenomenon goes without explaining. There are apparent lobbies prevailing in the market. Be it acting, music, direction or technical department - all need a good reference.

 

One is amazed at the fact that all the filmmaking institutes run by the government are subsidised. Students do pay a tiny fee, but the government invests rest of the amount. The government pays a huge amount for each student. It is indeed appreciated, but the government is hardly bothered about the whereabouts of the students who graduate from the government institutes. The government invests so much on the students so that they get well placed and give returns to the government in the form of taxes.

 

In this unique ‘industry’, there’s no provision for the people who get old. There are a number of cases where renowned actors, producers, technicians of yore have been seen leading a life in acutely adverse conditions. Not many years ago, there was a news flashed on NDTV where a Bollywood actor, Rakesh Khanna, was seen begging at the red lights! There was also news about a reputed cameraman who was leading a pathetic life under huge monetary crisis!

 

By and large, the film industry is an industry with no professionalism. It’s an industry of money minters who make money at the cost of a great bunch of workers. The spot boys, lights-men and production people, who work day and night, do not have any financial security. Their utility is only as long as their health permits. Once their body fails to bear the burden of labour, the ‘film industry’ becomes oblivious to them. They are left with no options in life.