“A CHILD ARTIST IS NOT FORCED ANYWHERE”

In India, we have laws that protect the children and child labor. As per the draft Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2017, there are a few draft rules that fix the norms for children’s employment. In addition to rules for general children, the draft also covers child artists in the entertainment sector.

According to the proposed amendment to the Child Labor Rules 1986, “No child artist should be made to work for more than 5 hours a day and for not more than three hours without rest. The production unit should nominate a person who would be held responsible for the child artist’s safety and security. At least 20% of the income earned by the child artist should be deposited in a nationalized bank as FD. The money would be credited to the child after he/she turns 18. A District Magistrate’s permission is important to engage a child artist”.

We talked to Mr. Vijay, father of child artist Sathanya of Nisabdham fame and also to director Michael Arun to know their thoughts on this.

Sathanya’s dad Vijay says, “As Sathanya’s dad, I have seen the way the film crew treated her. The entire team was very good and we had no complaints whatsoever. They take extra care when it comes to a child artist. They don’t over strain them and give them enough time and rest. A child artist can cancel the shoot if she/he is sick. There is a lot of flexibility.

As regards the draft, this is only a good thing. But, I don’t think it should be talked under ‘child labour’ because a child artist works in films with the willingness along with parent’s consent too. He/she is not forced anywhere. We have to treat this as a talent exposure only. Cinema is an art and is not a job”.

Nisabdham director Michael says, “Firstly, art and creative expression cannot be slotted as ‘labour’. Children are using the medium to let out their creativity. This draft appears to stifle such creativity. Another important thing is, we don’t bring any child artist to the shooting spot without the consent of parents. We also don’t extract work from them for 8 hours. We give them adequate breaks. I feel many talented child artists may not come out because of this.

Directors might feel it a deterrent to sit before the district magistrate to get permission and may avoid casting children in their films. As it is, there are many conditions to use animals in films which have led to a minimal use of them. This has resulted in today’s children not knowing about animals at all.  Such restrictions may affect films for sure.

What I like about this is the 20% of salary component to be deposited as FD. This appears to be good.

When I was shooting Nisabdham with Sathanya, there was a long scene. I only shot for two hours a day. I am prepared to shoot slowly with the child artist. The child also works in a relaxed mode. If I had shot the scene continuously, the output would have been different. All creators who work with the child artist follow this. I have not encountered any shabby treatment of a child artist”.

Jyothsna Bhavanishankar