Women’s panel, artists’ forum focus on hand-holding juniors

Kolkata: After the rise in suicide cases in Tollywood, the West Bengal Women’s Commission is sending out letters to West Bengal Motion Pictures Artists’ Forum and producers’ forum asking them to give it a platform to create awareness for helping aspirants deal with their problems.Three back-to-back suicides of Pallavi Dey, Bidisha De Majumdar and

Manjusha Neogi

have got the alarm bells ringing in Tollywood. Chairperson of West Bengal Women’s Commission Leena Gangopadhyay said her inbox is flooded with messages from aspirants who are frustrated and depressed because of not being able to achieve their dreams. “Since I also work in this industry, I am well aware of the crisis. Everyone wants to become famous. Their world comes crashing down the moment they don’t get the opportunity. They fail to realise that not everyone can be in front of the camera. But there are many other options available for them behind the camera as well,” Gangopadhyay said.In the absence of this counselling, depression hits aspirants while they struggle to deal with apparent failure. “Detachment from families is also creating a big issue. Most of them stay away from their parents and have communication issues. Actor Badshah Maitra got in touch with me and we discussed the need for creating awareness. If Artists’ Forum organizes a gathering, the commission will take the initiative to do monthly counselling in the presence of doctors. It is also crucial to make aspirants aware of fraudulent activities so that they don’t get duped while trying to make a mark in the industry,” she added.Psychiatrist

Jai Ranjan Ram

believes it is important to acknowledge these problems and promote a conversation about them. “Setting up a support system where these youngsters, without disclosing their identities, can call up helplines to talk about their problems can go a long way in addressing this issue,” he said. Actor Debdut Ghosh is eager to help. “I am ready to share my mobile number in the public domain. Anyone who is disturbed and wants some help in navigating through this industry can reach out to me. I am available 24X7,”

Ghosh

said. Bharat Kaul, vice president of West Bengal Motion Pictures Artists’ Forum, is deeply unnerved by Pallavi’s incident. “She worked in ‘Mon Mane Naa’ — which is our production. She was there on my daughter’s birthday on May 12. She called me up the day after saying that her work in the serial is ending and that she is eager to work again. On May 14, she went to Patuli floating market and posted happy photos of herself. Just 24 hours later, she was no more. There must have been problems that we could not see from the surface. We are setting up a helpline where our peers can call to share their problems. This is a worrying situation,” he said.