NEED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF INSURANCE COVER IN FILM INDUSTRY

Chennai: There is a need to raise awareness levels of insurance in the entertainment industry, particularly in the film industry, a section of artists, technicians and producers note.

With more Tamil films boasting of ‘Hollywood-like’ action sequences usually involving a greater degree of risk, the need for safety precautions and insurance is being felt more than ever, say many in the industry.

The passing away of 24-year-old Udaykumar and 26-year-old Sigamani on the sets of ‘Sarvam’ on Monday has brought to focus the issue of lack of awareness of the same.
Pushpa Kandaswamy, managing director of Kavithalaya, says it is certainly worthwhile taking insurance for projects involving very risky action sequences. “However, we have to keep in mind the cost element and perhaps work it out according the budget. We have started this practice,” she says.

G. Srinivasan, chairman and managing director, United India Insurance Company, says not everyone in the industry is aware of the various policies that could be useful in the entertainment industry.

“It is popular only among certain producers but there needs to be more awareness,” he says. The idea is yet to pick up on a large scale, says Krishna Rao, insurance broker. “This industry employs many on a temporary basis. Contractors engage workers as per the requirement in a particular production.”

Taking a workmen’s compensation policy, as is done by many construction companies, would be an appropriate option for them, he says. Insurance cover not only comes in handy in the case of injuries or death during risky action sequences, but also does in other aspects of production, says Sudha Panchapakesan, vice-president, advertisement film company J.S. Films.

“We have taken the Cine Mithra policy. You can choose to cover sets, costumes and also those whose work involves risk. For instance, when we shoot a car racing past at a high speed, we definitely insure the driver. We may insure him at a higher value than someone else whose work does not involve much risk. But yes, insurance is vital,” she adds.

Source: Meera Srinivasan
The Hindu