Liberalization of Indian Film Industry
India is the largest producer of films in the world. Indian Film and TV industry, primarily known as Bollywood, accounts for 1% of Indian GDP. The economic effects of the overall Media and Entertainment industry run deeper into the Indian Economy, real GDP contribution can be estimated almost twice the actual amount due to the multiplier effect. Per one Industrial survey report by Deloitte India, creative industries (TV, films, OTT) employ 7.4 lac people. Just to put it in perspective, the Indian Media and Entertainment industry makes up at par with whole of consumer durables and online retail, and potential for growth with a solid CAGR of 12%.
During the lockdown period, while I was comparing the visual quality and animations of Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana with today’s advanced productions, I felt that we have treaded a long way. However, the operating style of the industry has not seen much change for decades. It still revolves around the informal acquaintances and those in power favoring their relatives and friends. In the face of stiff competition from Hollywood and converging linguistic boundaries, few Indian films are reasonably doing well on international screens despite their orthodox, unsystematic, and inefficient working styles.
Yet we can’t let the pendulum swing too far, and let the industry alone deal with its issues clandestinely. The #MeToo movement has given birth to a new organization called “TIME’S UP” to end the sexual abuse in Hollywood, likewise, the Indian film industry needs to have Human Resource Management systems set up to iron out the laundry list of problems.
While competing with the highest professional grade and quality, it requires commitment and mental toughness for the crew members and actors. Many actors suffer from Friday blues, whether their film will get hit or will be bombed at the box office. Movie projects are too big to fail for any budding actor whose career can be put into hibernation for years, pushing him further to serious mental health issues, and depression.
As, there is no dearth of talent in the Indian cinema, and the number of opportunities being limited, the problem of nepotism is quite colossal. Where one may have to spend sleepless nights to be in a supporting role in shoestring budget film even after being supremely talented and having a stellar track record, another can be given the protagonist role in multi-million grandeur film just over a coffee table. And this menace is so deep-rooted, whistle-blowers are dealt with, very harshly; are often ostracised from the famous gatherings and are inflicted upon tremendous mental agony leading to suicidal tendencies.
Furthermore, there are newbie female actresses and models who face, every other day, the wrath of sexual atrocities such as casting couch and harassments in the clamor of so-called glamour.
Given all these problems, there arises a need to enact policies and regulations across production houses. This shall not be akin to any worker’s association or labor-union, which generally work in siloes and fail to spawn any cultural change. There shall be policy framework on the similar lines of ‘TIME’S UP’, whereupon production houses and other media companies can be nudged to adopt to these policies for benefit of all.
Now one may argue the whole validity of such a system in-place citing the vulnerability of pandering to the demands of production house owners and other powerful individuals. This can be interpreted well with the concept of Game Theory – a framework for reaching to common minimum solution among competing players.
In the longer run, it becomes imperative to implement the cultural transformation policies to stay relevant in the future, and the organization will only benefit from Strategy A by gaining 8 points as demonstrated with the help of game theory. At its core, an organization has to have the right culture to self-police. And developing a culture is a long haul that requires any sound organization have itself equipped with visionary leadership. As it is beautifully quoted by Bryan Walker: “Culture is like the wind. It is invisible, yet its effect can be seen and felt”. This can solve the human rights issues cropping up every other day and bringing bad name to the Indian film Industry.
https://blog.completepayroll.com/hollywood-human-resources-what-is-hr-like-on-a-movie-set
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/08/metoo-one-year-on-hollywood-reaction
https://www.mpa-apac.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/India-ECR-2017_Final-Report.pdf