The tragic incident that shocked the Kannada film industry, which took away two innocent lives due to sheer negligence, has raised many questions. Sandalwood has gone on a soul searching exercise to avoid such mishaps in the future. First, the body governing the film industry —Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) barred the few concerned from the film Maasthi Gudi — actor, director, stunt choreographer and producer from taking part in any film-related activities till a final call is taken. The body was sympathetic towards the producer of the film, who, according to KFCC, is being dragged into the issue, expressing that producers should not be held responsible for any mishap which may occur during film shootings.
Even as the body is expected to meet in the coming days to chalk out a proper plan in fixing accountability during the entire process of making a film, Bengaluru Chronicle speaks to a couple of directors and producers on what they feel, and who should be held responsible in the event of such tragic, avoidable accidents. “Since the director is the captain of the ship, it is fine to hold him accountable but one should understand that for a film to happen, both the producer and director are equally responsible. They are both like the father and mother who realise the dream of making a film. Both are important. I, honestly feel that stunt directors should lead the responsibility to safeguard their men they trust them before taking risks. The stunt director should be very clear, and make the director and producer realise what is essential when it comes to securing the life of stuntmen. The director and his men alone cannot be cornered in such cases,” says director and producer Mahesh Sukhadare.
Another director feels that there are deeper lessons in this tragic incident. While PC Sekar, also a director, feels that while it is the director who heads the team on the ground, the producer too has a larger responsible role to play, he says. “I have experience as both director and producer. The producer who is the owner of a film must involve himself in every decision made. He cannot wash his hands off after investing. The director is also a technician working under the producer, and gets paid for his work. Even when we produce, we think a 100 times on investing something when it comes to security and safety. The producers must be involved, only then things will move in the right direction, though the creative freedom still rests on the director. A producer can always voice apprehensions if he is not ok with the security and safety aspects.”
However another technician on condition of anonymity feels that the producer should understand the entire film making process to have a command over the making, especially if he is being taken for a ride and important aspects are being compromised.
