Come November, Kollywood will shut down for three days as nearly 10,000 technicians are expected to shun work to attend a certification programme led by actor-director Kamal Haasan.
Aligning himself with the Narendra Modi-led Skill Development Mission, that aims to train 400 million by 2022, Hassan told the Hindu that, “The idea is to make our technicians internationally qualified." For the programme, Haasan claimed to have roped in over 35 film unions and convinced the All India Film Employee’ confederation to participate in the shutdown.
Terming it as "one of the first worker-led initiatives" to improve technical skills among films-men, Hassan emphasized that that this was long overdue national effort undertaken by the workers of various language film industries in India, and must not be seen as an effort by the workers to push for a hike in wages.
“Efforts like this will go a long way in getting the movie industry," said Hassan who's chairman of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (media and entertainment division)"It will push the industry towards pursuing excellence.” he said.
Haasan emphasized that this was not an initiative by one particular political party but involved the government too and told Firstpost that national and international film dignitaries, technicians and specialists would provide training. “This unique initiative has been named as ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ because there are hundreds like me who haven’t got prior training but have excelled in their individual fields,” said the 60-year old who is a school drop out, but has collected 57 years of experience in the industry.
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