Producers Guild of India pens note on SSR case

Organisation says his death is being used to defame Bollywood

Bollywood has its imperfections, accepts the Producers Guild of India, but it is one of the most important sources of soft power for India at a global level, the organisation said in an open letter on Friday.

Following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14, celebrities like Kangana Ranaut have opened up about rampant nepotism and drug abuse in Bollywood. While she has been castigating the industry for favouring certain influential film-makers, the actor recently claimed that 99% of Bollywood is on drugs.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Guild came to Bollywood’s defence saying, "The last few months have seen relentless attacks on the reputation of the Indian film industry across all media. The tragic death of a promising young star has been used by some as a tool to defame and slander the film industry and its members."

 

 

 

 

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The statement added, “A picture has been painted of the industry as a terrible place for outsiders to aspire to; a place that treats those who dare to enter it with contempt and derision; a murky den of substance abuse and criminality. This narrative is salacious enough for the media to exploit to great effect in order to boost its ratings, readership and page views. But it is not the truth.”

The Guild asserted, "Like any other sector, there is no doubt that the film industry has its imperfections and there must always be an ongoing attempt by any industry to improve upon itself, learn and evolve while weeding out unsavoury elements or improper practices that hold it back. But to paint an entire industry with the same brush is a gross misrepresentation of reality."

Highlighting the positive aspects of Bollywood, the statement added, "The film industry employs hundreds of thousands of people, boosts travel and tourism and is one of the most important sources of soft power for India across the world. It has entertained hundreds of millions of people for over a century and has brought joy, honour and glory to the nation. It has welcomed and embraced talent from across the country - from the worlds of literature, poetry, art and music - and has drawn them in to create a unique cinematic language."

Members of the Guild acknowledged that it's not easy to enter such a massive work environment and there are struggles, indeed. “But a concerted effort has been made to single out the film industry as one that specifically inhibits and prohibits new talent from the outside from thriving. This could not be further from the truth. There are scores of talented actors, directors, writers, musicians, cinematographers, editors, sound designers, production designers, costume designers, art directors and numerous other professionals across multiple disciplines who have had absolutely no connection to the industry but who have flourished and produced inspiring and path-breaking work, which has defined - and then redefined - Indian cinema."

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