After Maasthi Gudi, KFCC yet to take safety concerns

Learning a lesson from the death of two actors during the shooting of Kannada film Maasthi Gudi in November 2016, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) had announced it would come out with guidelines for the industry for film shoots, especially action scenes.

But more than two years down the line, the top body of the film industry in Karnataka continues to drag its feet on the matter. The death of a woman and her five-year-old daughter who were were watching the shooting of Ranam on Friday has only thrown up questions whether the KFCC is actually serious about ensuring film shoots safe for everyone.

Caught off guard during the shooting of Maasthi Gudi, the KFCC office-bearers had assured the industry that stringent guidelines will be issued within a few days. But the issue died down, it did nothing more than orally telling its members to abide by the general safety rules that were largely ignored by most producers in the first place.

When asked whether the KFCC is serious about its promise of coming out with stringent guidelines, S A Chinne Gowda, president, KFCC, denied any delay in the process. “We are aware of the promise and haven’t forgotten it. We had issued oral instructions on ensuring the safety of artistes as well as the general public. We were under the impression that film units will consider them seriously and abide by it. But we have received reports that a few of them are either ignorant about these rules or are cavalier in their attitude. We will formally issue the guidelines soon and will anyone who violates them,” Gowda said.

Gowda further said that the KFCC’s legal body had already been instructed to frame a fresh set of guidelines. “Such incidents should not recur. Whenever such incidents happen, it is common for the public to point the finger at the KFCC. But this time, we are serious and will issue stringent guidelines soon,” he maintained.