Note ban lands Tollywood jr artistes in soup

Hyderabad: Junior artistes working in Tollywood industry are struggling to make both ends meet with meagre wages and suspension of film shoot for the past 15 days following demonetisation.

Every film, big or small requires the support from junior artistes. Sweeping their troubles under the carpet, they provide entertainment to people.

Some of the junior artistes, however, are living in abject poverty. The demonetisation has come as a bolt from the blue to them.

Producers make films spending Rs 50 to Rs 100 crore on each project. Top stars receive hefty remuneration, but the junior artistes are poorly paid.

Junior artistes congregate at Krishna Nagar, Indira Nagar and Ganapati Complex area in the upmarket Banjara Hills area of the city.

These areas wore a deserted look with many junior artistes leaving Hyderabad for their respective places with suspension of shooting. Till 20 days ago, Krishna Nagar was abuzz with junior artistes.

Talking to The Hans India, junior artistes’ secretary Narasimha Reddy said that the demonetisation decision left the junior artistes high and dry. Majority of film shoots came to a standstill, while only a few films are still on the sets.

The decision has affected financial transactions. Therefore, the producer is not in a position to give cash. The junior artistes are finding it difficult to get the old notes exchanged, he said.

Since it is difficult for all junior artistes to find work and even if they get work their daily earnings are a meagre Rs 200 to Rs 300, many junior artistes left the city for their respective places.

One of the junior artistes Radhika said that union plays crucial role in junior artistes’ booking.

Producers first consult the junior artistes’ agent and then select members from the union. The agents in the union are not functioning as per the rules.

According to junior artiste Manju, the junior artistes first become a member of the junior artistes’ union. In fact, there are 24 unions each enjoying a membership of 2000 to 3000.

The artistes get up at 4 am and congregate at Krishna Nagar. Even those who find work could not earn sufficient to meet their both ends meet.

She said that each artiste earns Rs 300 a day after the agent and his assistant receive their cut from the artistes’ wages.

For every 1000 junior artistes there will be an agent who functions as their representative. The agent decides on sending how many artistes to which film shoot.

According to a senior artiste Devaraju, the agents take 20 per cent cut and their assistant 10 per cent cut in the wages paid to the junior artiste.

According to a junior artiste Vinod, from the junior most to the 30-year-old veteran all are get paid same wages.

Further, right from the director to the junior artistes’ agent every one bosses over them. Suspension from the union, threats and not assigning work are some common forms of harassment, he said expressing his agony.

In lieu of junior artistes, the producers are hiring non-members of the union and labourers for a paltry sum depriving livelihood to the union members, he pointed out.

Those who represent their problems in the union are targeted, victimised and prevented from attending film shootings, he added.