The Flip Side

I have always maintained that there are two sides to everything that happens in this world. Today, a news item on CNN-IBN reafirmed this belief. This was relating the plight of the extras in cinema. These extras, who take up difficult tasks on behalf of the main character in the film, are almost unnoticed by the audience. In Reality, these extras and their stunts are not appreciated, whereas the hero who poses in front of the Camera becomes a heartthrob for millions. For far too long, these extras have been in the background, and there are few attempts to highlight their plight.

The occasion is right. Today is May 1st, the day of the labourers. It was celebrated as a festival during the Cold war times, in nations where the ideology was Marxism. Today, the significance of May Day is diminished, but, looking at the negativity that is spreading in Capitalism, it is interesting to look at the plight of labourers today.

An ideal platform would be the extras in the glamourous world of bollywood. Glamourous for a certain few who share prominence on the 70mm screen, but for these people, survival is the order of the day. The fact that their desperation and their desire are exploited by all the bigwigs of Indian cinema shows the flip side of this glamour. For all the stunts that they perform, for each drop of blod that they shed, for all the hits and the punches that they take from the lead, for their continuing toil, it is a wonder as to who is the real hero in these films.

The main character wil be given prominence on screen, on media channels, as well paid in lakhs or in Crores. What does the extra get? Not a single mention on channels baring certain days like this, and a sum of only 800 rupees per day. This is just about enough to manage their living expenses. While the Stars live in posh bungalows and go around in fancy cars, these guys have to live it out in slums.

The foolishness involved is that, i the case of an extra getting hurt, he is not insured!!!!!! The film industry does not insure these extras, while the film stars, even if their ankle is twisted, the media goes into a panic mode and highlights their suffering. The extras have to suffer alone, and they have to heal their own wounds. This is the flip side of the coin, and one which has been there for years to come.

A bold attempt to highlight the negative aspects in the glamour of film industry was done in the Mid-70's. Hrishkesh Mukherjee directed a film named 'Guddi', which shattered the illusions of glamour in one girl. Unfortunately, nobody remebers that message, and extras stil get exploited by the industry to rake in more profits.

I guess, Glamour wil never consider the human aspect of life. This kind of industry is only concerned with the manufacture of nothing but glamour and money. In all these cases, Stars will occupy centre stage, while the extras wil be lonesome, with no one paying attention. This thing will be silenced much more in the coming years, because afterall, Indian Cinema is making an impact on Western Culture as well. No one will want to highlight this negativity, because the money will be lost.

The workers in this film industry wont cry out May Day, May Day, which is also a call for help. They are ready to suffer this pain, because it is all for the money.