TV presenter turned actor Sri Reddy’s semi-nude protest against the “unacknowledged” casting couch -- a tradition that has been in vogue since celluloid came in to being as described by veteran choreographer Saroj Khan -- brought to fore the degeneration that has set in the film industry like never before. Eight decade old Kannada film industry is no exception to this phenomenon.
At the same time Congress leader and former Union Minister of State for Ministry and Women Child Development Renuka Chowdhry refused to restrict the phenomenon to cinema and extended it to politics as well. “Even Parliament is not immune to it,” she said. Ms. Chawdhary even urged that India should stand up and said #MeToo.
After Sri Reddy’s “unprecedented” protest, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) finally woke up and decided to form CASH-Committee Against Sexual Harassment-in accordance with the Vishaka guidelines (Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act—came in to effect 2013) in production houses that are registered with the TFCC. It also decided to set up a sexual harassment redressal panel.
Ms. Reddy’s startling exposure got mixed responses from Kannada film industry. Interestingly, many popular female actors of Sandalwood are now busy in Tollywood too. Each day you have one actor or the other coming out with their casting couch experiences. Krishi Tapanda of Big Boss fame recently admitted that she had lost opportunities in Sandalwood because she refused to comply with casting couch demand. Krishi also said that she had refused an offer from Tollywood, just because of some people seeking “favours” for giving her an opportunity.
Avantika Shetty of RangiTaranga and Rajaratha fame recently made a sensational revelation on how she had been subjected to harassment by the makers of Raju Kannada Medium .
Popular multi-lingual actor Shruti Hariharan stirred the hornet’s nest by sharing her experience on how she was subjected to casting couch during a media house conclave on “Sexism in Cinema; Time’s up”. Ms. Hariharan disclosed that she faced casting couch, when she was 18. This is what she said during an interview: “I was 18 at that time and I was going to do my first Kannada movie perhaps. I was so scared and petrified that I remember running back crying. I went to my choreographer and told him what had happened. He looked in to my eyes and said if she couldn’t handle such situations, she should back off. She had rejected film.
Few years ago, Neha Patil, an upcoming actor accused the producer of asking sexual favour from her with the production manager acting as an intermediary for the producer. Actor Sanjjanaa is guarded in her comment. Admitting that a “microscopic section is said to be seeking favours in the film industry, she asserts majority of the people are pure professionals and restrict their interaction with the female lead just to work. Another lead actor Harshika Poonacha during a media interaction said that her manager said a firm “NO” to intermediaries seeking favours on behalf of film makers.
Stating that she had not undergone “any experience of that kind”, actor Haripriya cautioned upcoming actors to be guarded against such moves by “favour seekers”. President Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, Sa. Ra. Govindu maintains that Chamber has not received any complaint on harassment in work place so far. “We will act on any complaint, if received officially,” he said.
Shruti Hariharan
Though casting couch is as old as Kannada cinema in Sandalwood, sting operation by a private news channel four years ago proved its existence and focused on the plight of young women in Kannada film industry. The sting operation exposed involvement of a few Kannada film makers “seeking favours from young girls in return for promoting them in films”. Even today majority of insiders in film industry on conditions of anonymity assert that it is a common phenomenon. However, there seems to be no efforts to address the issue. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) expressed its helplessness, citing absence of the complaints from victims, while the Kannada Film Directors’ Association is contented with just issuing notices to film makers in question. The Kannada Artistes’ Association is still groping in the dark.
At least Kannada film world, woke up much earlier and took a gigantic step towards legalising women’s rights . A group of cine artists headed by Priyanka Upendra, Chetan and others legally registered FIRE-Film Industry for Rights and Equality (FIRE). According to actor Chetan, who is now the target of Hindutva outfits for his secular and democratic stance, “In a patriarchal society like ours, every position is dominated by men. Film industry, which is basically patriarchal in character and catering to a male dominated audience, this is not an exception. Women on screen mostly boost the macho image of male leads. FIRE aims to address and correct struggles in our film industry making it a safe and welcoming environment for women”.
Raising serious concerns about the increase in incidents of cast couch, a veteran actor on condition of anonymity said, “Though women were being exploited in the past it was not like how they are being treated now.” Jayamala describes the trend as a blotch on the film industry, especially Kannada film industry, which has a great tradition of respecting women.
Actor Chetan strongly favours setting up of “Committees Against Sexual Harassment” in production houses and the Film Chamber of Commerce as per the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court.
Besides casting couch some female actors have raised the issue of discrimination of payment. They are accusing film makers of paying them less, compared to their male counterparts. There are lead actors who are paid between ₹3 to 4 crore for a movie, while women in lead roles get Rs.15 to Rs.50 lakh. It was actor turned politician Ramya (Divya Spandana) who questioned about the discrimination in payment. During an interaction with the media, she sought to know why women actors were being paid less even after toiling so hard. Aindrita Ray also raised the issue. Without mincing words, Parul Yadav said, “a lot of female actors have not spoken about this discrimination, as they are scared of being boycotted. I have experienced this disparity. For instance, if the male paid is Rs. 10, female lead will be paid 0.75 paise not even a rupee. ” Similar was the opinion of Shanvi Srivastav.
There is a reason for female actors to heave sigh of relief. Instead of enduring exploitation, some people have mustered courage finally and started #JustAsking.
