Anupamaa, a popular television drama, made news last week after a terrible occurrence on set. The All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has appealed for justice for a crew member who died on set as a result of electrocution. Suresh Shamlal Gupta, the association’s founder and president, has contacted Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to ask for his assistance in the case.
The All India Cine Workers Association, which advocates for the safety and security of artists and workers in the Indian film industry, has described the death of the 32-year-old crew member on the sets of Anupamaa as ‘institutionalised murder caused by the greed and negligence of producers, the production house, and the channel.’
A copy of the letter sent to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was posted on AICWA on X.
The letter claims that the incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on November 14 due to malfunctioning and badly maintained equipment on the sets, resulting in electrocution. Despite the tragedy, the shooting proceeded till midnight and resumed normal hours the next day. An FIR has allegedly been filed against the electrical contractor for carelessness.
The AICWA has urged the Chief Minister to initiate a FIR under IPC Section 302 against all those guilty for the tragedy. They are seeking accountability from the producers, production house, channel, and other parties involved. As compensation, the TV body has asked the production team to pay Rs1 crore to the deceased worker’s family. They also underlined the importance of proper safety protocols on set and demanded that the shooting of Rupali Ganguly’s series be halted until justice was served.
Rajan Shahi’s Director’s Kut Productions, which produces the show, has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.