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Bits that make up life

For these women, roles matter; not recognition, says KAUSALYA SANTHANAM

GOING THAT EXTRA MILE Limelight may elude them but they bear it with a smile

You see them for fleeting moments on the screen. Theirs is the face in a crowd, of a bystander in a fight, a patient in a ward, a guest at a wedding. But this is a job that spells permanence for many of them. They are the junior artistes in films who hang around for hours to snap up the bit roles. A few of the women artistes have been in the field for 40 years. For some like 53-year-old Baba Shanti, the money it brings will feed her entire family.

Shanti is certainly an unusual woman. When you see her in shorts and T-shirt, you assume she is dressed for a role. But no, it is her regular attire and nobody raises an eyebrow — where else but in cinema can this be so acceptable? Talk of equality between the sexes! "We are used to seeing her so for 30 years," smile colleagues Rukku and Saroja. For all three, this is a profession they wouldn't dream of leaving. "Our parents too were junior artistes. All members of the Junior Film Artistes' Association are treated alike." "Both men and women get equal daily wages," add Uma Ravi and Devi. "We get many benefits as well — maternity benefits, pension and bonus. Any misdemeanour is penalised regardless of gender."

How come then one hears of so many cases of exploitation? "Papers do flash photographs of women arrested for prostitution. And we feel distressed because the newspapers dub them junior film artistes; these women falsely claim they are. It is unfair to misuse our name and tar us with the same brush," say the women.

"Man or woman, the association debars anyone who is involved in shady activities," says its president, Pandian.

Status symbol

Some of the women hold posts in the association as committee members. "I am a vice president now. Soon I will be president," grins Baba Shanti.

Do relatives and neighbours pass unsavoury remarks because of the nature of their job and the odd hours of work? "Relatives sometimes do. But the perception of cinema has changed in terms of respectability." In the past, men were reluctant to marry one of us. But now they will give "dowry" to get married to us," they chortle. "Women from conservative communities and the moneyed have become our competitors; it has become a status symbol to appear in cinema. With few films being released, job opportunities are scarce."

The women consider it a blessing that they do not have to carry their lunch with them to work as the producers arrange food and transport.

Film dancers also have an association. "It protects our interests," states Latha, while veteran Vijaya thinks it is natural that the camera's focus is "on the beautiful and the skilled."

"This generation of women artistes in cinema has become `free'," says dance master Shanti, who with her verve had everyone tapping their feet to the title song of "Metti Oli" and has worked in hundreds of films. "We generally dance in groups and there is safety in numbers; it is also fun. The crew considers us members of their family. I work with 100 boys sometimes and they treat me as one of them. As dance master, I'm the boss. Cinema is a profession which is in the glare of the media and any small problem gets magnified."

"The short costumes one has to wear for some scenes and the arduous hours of work are the only disadvantages I can think of as a woman. And if there is one area in which women dance masters are not treated equal it is in the kind of songs they get to choreograph — only the soft ones like romantic duets — whereas the men masters get to do the vigorous Koothu songs in vogue."

Shanti may be more blessed than many in her field. The limelight can elude them despite their being light on their feet.

But they bear it with a smile and would rather not make a song and dance about it.

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