Women makeup artists get toehold in tinseltown
The Supreme Court's Monday order, that the Cine Costume Makeup Artists and Hairdressers Association open its doors to women members, sets right a terrible wrong that had prevailed for years. It is amazing that the Indian film industry, considered among the greatest social levellers, should have patronised the gender discrimination so blatantly and for so long. What made it worse was the reason the association gave: That the entry of women into its fold would adversely impact the employment prospects of male members. One would have thought that the film industry, which recognises nothing but success, would be open to competition so that the best ones may flourish. Job opportunities would have been a problem for those males makeup artists who would have failed to match the exacting standards. Imagine the howls of protest if there had been a rule that only women could be choreographers in Indian films since men had no business to get into a field of activity which was associated with the fair sex. Had the CCMAHA not slammed its doors on an aspiring makeup artist in 2009, who applied for a membership of the association, and had she not responded in a manner that befits a person wrongly discriminated against, the matter would probably not have reached the apex court, at least for now. But Charu Khurana, who had qualified as a makeup artist from an institute in the US, and was denied membership of the association when she landed in India to make a career out of her specialty, went straight to the court. Five years down the line, the court has ruled in her favour, reminding the association that it had in the process flouted the most basic tenets of the Constitution of India by introducing elements into its own constitution and rules. Ms Khurana had accused the association of violating her fundamental right to equality, right to practise her profession and the right to livelihood. The framers of the association's constitution must have lived in very different times to have thought up the nonsense before the apex court's gravel came down. Even so, regardless of the context and time, the discrimination cannot have been justified.
While the Supreme Court's verdict provides relief to not just Ms Khurana but thousands of other women makeup artists and hairdressers aspiring to work in the film industry, it should open the eyes of heavyweights associated with the industry who allowed the bias to happen. Of course, they can take the plea that, while they had protested, they could not have their way because of the independent functioning of the association. These mega-personalities must also have been apprehensive about the backlash from the fraternity, affecting them personally. In sum, many of those who speak out in public platforms against all forms of discrimination sadly remained silent. Hopefully, with the apex court's verdict, they will now find their voice — and retain it.