By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, Nov. 2:
In the interest of film fraternity and artists, technicians, a national level “ BJ Film & TV Industry Association” (BJFTVIA) was launched at the hands of BJP Mumbai President, advocate and MLA Ashish Shelar at a function organized at Bandra Hindu Association auditorium in North West Mumbai on Sunday.
President of the association Advocate Pradeep Bhat, Vice Presidents- Ratnakar Kumar and Rashmi, General Secretary Babubhai Thiba, Treasurer Satishbabu KV, Advocates-Ameet Mehta and Mahesh Shukla, BJP Mumbai Secretary Divya Dhole, Citizen Justice Forum President Advocate Sulaiman Bhimani and a large number of cine workers were present.
On the occasion Shelar launched the website of the BJ Film & TV Industry Association, which will provide relevant information to cine workers time to time.
In his speech Shelar said that this association will lend helping hand to film folks, right from the spot boys to film makers and will try to communicate various government schemes formulated for the benefit of film industry, to them. The cine workers hide their grievances and strive to deliver their best so that the films/serials become successful. However hardly anyone bothers about their plight.
There are many organisations but most of them are merely engaged in issuing identity cards and collecting heavy fees, instead of solving problems of the workers, who include make up artists, spot boys etc. Shelar said and added once upon a time, he himself was a struggler and had smaller roles in the films including “Thanedaar” (1990).
BJFTVIA will try to provide housing to cine workers and will try to redress their grievances through legal way. The association will not halt the shootings but will try to solve the woes of the affected workers through the right channel. Recalling the famous lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi “ Na Munh Chhupa Ke Jiyo” in the 70’s film “Humraaz”, Shelar said that now the cine workers need not hide their face or bow their head before anybody’s high handedness.
The satellites launched by ISRO under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go a long way in boosting the communication, including film making Shelar said adding that Indian film industry has done a remarkable progress in Independent India.
Advocate Sulaiman Bhimani in his speech said that it is deplorable that the cine workers do not get benefits like provident fund, ESIS, pension etc. Now the cine workers should be fearless, since the association is armed with many lawyers, which would provide guidance to them time to time.
