TV actors' unions - standing asunder
Recently many television actors came together to form a union for themselves, when already one such body is supposed to be in existence. MALATHI RANGARAJAN talks to representatives of the two groups.
The new union's general secretary, Rajendran.
THEY ARE big names on the small screen — busybodies in their profession. But their conviction that unity alone can get them their due has made them come together to form an association for themselves. Thus has been born the Chinnathirai Nadigar Sangam, whose inauguration took place with fanfare, recently. "We had no security, none to approach when we had problems concerning our work. So we decided to have a union for ourselves," says S. N. Vasanth, popular television actor and president of the newly formed sangam. "It wasn't just that... we needed a body that would bring about unity among the much divided acting fraternity, inculcate discipline in all of us and be heard as one voice in times of adversity," adds Rajendran, actor and general secretary, Chinna Thirai Nadigar Sangam.
Strangely, for a medium with a huge workforce and investment that runs into crores of rupees, there seems to be no proper agreement between the serial makers and the cast, says Vasanth. So the actor has nobody to fall back on when he is not paid his due in time. What was quite a lucrative profession a few years ago, when artistes were paid on a daily basis, is now gripped by malady, mainly due to an unorganised manner of functioning, say Vasanth and Rajendran.
"Of course not ... whenever artistes have come to me with problems I've helped them out." The dissenting voice is S.Ve. Shekher's. The actor and theatre person needs no introduction. But what could be new is that he has been the president of the Tamil Nadu Television Artistes Union for more than eight years now. Then what was the need for a new union, when a similar body is alive and kicking? "Ask them ... " begins Shekher. "If the directors' union is guiding Vasanth and others, I can only say that they are being misled. Do you know that the director gets paid for every episode, while actors get money for the number of shifts they work in. A shift could last for 12 hours when even seven episodes are shot. But the actor is paid for only one day's work. The technicians get their daily allowance too. These are points actors have to note."
"I have attended Shekher's union meetings ... but no concrete solutions to problems are given," Vasanth says with an apologetic smile. "I've never heard about the existence of such an association," is Rajendran's stand. "If it had been active we would have known. The TV directors' union members Viduthalai, K. R. Selvaraj, Mohanasundaram, Jayamani, R.C. Shakti, R.V. Ramesh Raj and Kavitha Bharathi have helped us form the Chinnathirai union to solve our problems."
"When there is a problem in an institution, will forming another similar body be the right recourse," asks Shekher. "They could have sat together, discussed the matter and tried to rectify things," he feels. But he is sure that he has the support of the 450 members of his union. "`Vadhyar' Raman is the general secretary and Vinodhini is the vice-president of our union," he says.
The office bearers of the new union are a nominated body. "We plan to hold an election after two years. Regular meetings will take place on the second Sunday of every month," says Rajendran.
Does the union headed by Shekher hold regular elections?
"We intend to. I have always said someone else should take over... " Shekher's argument does not hold water because even after so many years of existence the union does not have an elected body.
S. N. Vasanth, president, Chinnathirai Nadigar Sangam.
"As far as our activities are concerned, we have helped around six senior actors secure pension. Artistes who have been injured during shooting have sought assistance and I have got compensation for them. When actor Pari Venkat died in an accident, we saw to it that the family got financial assistance. But actors must also practise work ethics... " Shekher's line of defence goes on.
"We too feel very strongly about the need for actors to be professional," say Vasanth and Rajendran.
"Spending hours on end on the cell phone, delaying the shoot to suit your whims and throwing tantrums are out. If you wish your rights to be safeguarded, you must do your duty properly. That's what we mean when we say that discipline has to be insisted upon," adds Rajendran.
He gets rather emotional as he tells you that Sivaji Ganesan, even at a later stage in life, when he acted in the television serial, "Meendum Gouravam," would be on the sets, ready with make-up on, at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time. "Are we greater than the thespian?"
The mobile phone seems to be an irking point with many technicians.
As seasoned director S. P. Muthuraman mentioned at the inauguration, actors wasting precious time on the sets could make the director restless and it could in turn affect the work.
Actor Radha Ravi made a pertinent point when he spoke of actors who dole out dates on an hourly basis and move from one shooting spot to another, doing justice nowhere.
Whether it was an indicator or not, certain notable TV personalities like K. Balachander and Radhika were not to be seen at the inauguration function presided over by actor Vijayakanth.
S.Ve. Shekher ... on the other side.
But there were many well-known faces too from Nalini and Sita to Roja, Sharmila, Venu Arvind and many others.
Do TV artistes have the choice of being members in either of the two unions or in both? "Why not? It's their wish ... " says Shekher.
"Of course," chorus Vasanth and Rajendran.
More heard than seen ...
"TELEVISION IS a flourishing industry. It's time we got together to do our mite and stem the rot," says Rajendran. He is a familiar face for DD viewers. Nowadays he is seen in tele-serials such as "Panneer Pushpangal" and "Archanai Pookal". In fact, the cruel role that he portrayed in the latter got him into real trouble with a woman who walked up to him and hurled abuses at him. It took Rajendran a few moments to realise that the choice epithets were meant for the character enacted by him. "Pannai Mudhal Paanai Varai", the mega serial on DD, was an unforgettable experience, he says. "As a dubbing artiste I have been very busy throughout. I cannot forget writer Marudhabharani, a popular name in dubbing circles, who gave me valuable advice on voice modulation and changing of tone in dialogue delivery," he says. Rajendran created a record of sorts when he dubbed for a serial from Hindi, in which he actually gave his voice for seven characters, each one entirely different from the other!
Rajendran was recently heard in the film "Saami", in which he had lent his voice to the menacing, main villain Perumal Pichai, the role donned by Kota Srinivasa Rao. But you are dumbstruck when he says that the soft-spoken voice of Balachandra Menon in the film "Album" was also his!
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