Behind what appears on the silver screen is a vast, dynamic, living, breathing ecosystem of labour, material, technology and processes that shape the creative outcome of a film.
Outlook’s anniversary issue, curated by Editor Chinki Sinha and guest editors Aradhana Seth and Gautam Pemmaraju, is an ode to the below-the-line cinema workers.
Behind what appears on the silver screen is a vast, dynamic, living, breathing ecosystem of labour, material, technology and processes that shape the creative outcome of a film.
From the gaffer who lights up the set to the set dresser who resets the pillow covers, each person is an essential part of the story being told, the film being seen.
We bring to the limelight, some of these anonymous workers – the backbones of any film.
Rohit Yadav is a film caterer. His company, RR Catering Services, is one of the thousands of small-scale units that keep the machinery of the Hindi film and TV industry —estimated to be worth Rs 183 and 720 billion respectively—well-fuelled. Like a Bollywood star’s son who knows his calling even before he is born, Yadav is a second-generation caterer who was passionate about following in his father’s footsteps from an early age.