Minority Report: Child exploitation in film industry
Features
-Staff
By Staff
By:
Amjad
K.
Maruf,
IndiaFM
Thursday,
June
07,
2007
I
refer
to
the
child
exploitation
in
the
entertainment
industry.
The
recent
case
of
the
child
artist,
Ahsaas
Channa,
is
one
of
the
many
cases
where
parents
are
using
their
kids
for
monetary
gains.
Ahsaas
Channa
is
the
one
who
acted
in
films
like
Vaastu
Shastra,
Kabhi
Alvida
Na
Kehna
and
also
appears
in
many
advertisements
on
TV.
Just
spare
a
thought
of
what
the
girl
must
be
going
through
mentally,
biologically
and
physically
at
this
tender
age.
Director
Mani
Ratnam
is
a
great
example
for
child
sexual
exploiters
in
films.
In
Anjali,
he
made
kids
sing
a
sexually
explicit
song
with
suggestive
visuals.
You
can
find
half-naked
girl
children
in
his
Alai
Payuthey
and
Kannathil
Muthamittaal.
It's
always
a
girl
child.
I
wish
somebody
from
the
alternative
media
exposed
him,
because
the
mainstream
media
is
in
awe
of
him.
Today,
child
artists
have
become
a
vital
constituent
of
the
film
and
advertising
clique.
These
adorable
little
stars
cast
a
magical
spell
on
the
screen.
Fame
and
fortune
is
theirs
for
the
asking.
However,
the
other
face
of
the
coin
presents
a
not-so-pretty
picture.
Considering
their
tender
age,
they
literally
have
to
rough
it
whether
in
stuffy
studios
or
out
on
treacherous
locales.
They
are
forced
to
keep
odd
hours
and
very
often,
studies
take
a
backseat.
Parents
of
these
'wonder
children' invariably
swear
that
their
tiny-tots
are
in
showbiz
only
because
of
their
talent
and
not
for
the
moolah.
This,
more
often
than
not,
is
a
blatant
lie.
It
is
a
mere
front
to
disguise
their
burning
ambition
of
making
huge
amount
of
money.
For,
once
the
hen
starts
laying
golden
eggs,
the
quest
for
more
and
more
outstrips
all
other
considerations.
Is
this
not
a
child
labour?
All
seem
to
turn
a
Nelson's
eye
to
the
statute
that
strictly
prohibits
child
exploitation.
Do
the
binding
arc
lights
of
the
film
and
advertising
world
shroud
this
law?
The
greed
of
money
and
the
desire
to
see
their
children
on
TV
and
big
screen
have
made
parents
forget
their
real
duty
towards
their
children.
Instead
of
making
their
children
slog
all
through
the
year
in
film
shootings
the
parents
should
make
it
the
point
to
allow
their
children
to
shoot
only
on
Holidays,
if
necessary.
There's
no
harm
in
children
working
in
films
and
television
but
it
should
be
ensured
that
their
education
and
childhood
does
not
suffer.
These
young
children
have
a
long
life
ahead
to
pursue
their
acting
career
and
to
fulfill
the
expectations
and
dreams
of
their
parents.
Till
then
let
the
innocence
in
the
child
remain.
Recent
Stories
N
Chandra
speaks
on
Tezaab
sequel
Remembering
Sunil
Dutt
on
his
77th
Birthday