Mission Possible

The tremors in the film industry set off by Bharat Shah's arrest could be a temporary phenomenon or lead to a much needed clean-up of Boll...

The tremors in the film industry set off by Bharat Shah8217;s arrest could be a temporary phenomenon or lead to a much needed clean-up of Bollywood. Much depends on how credibly the Mumbai police proceeds with its investigations and whether industry leaders can be persuaded to cooperate with the police. More than the fortunes of three major films in various stages of production and a bunch of entertainment companies hang in the balance. Bollywood as a whole is feeling the repercussions of Shah8217;s detention. His investments in films, estimated at Rs 100 crore, make him a heavyweight whose fall 8212; if it occurs 8212; could bring down a large part of the edifice with him. So deeply enmeshed is he in the industry that virtually no one who is anybody can remain immune to his fate. If Shah8217;s mafia links are proven, an awful lot of people could be vulnerable to charges under the provisions of Maharashtra8217;s tough Control of Organised Crime Act.

It is tempting to think the shock of all this will have a positive outcome. But before that can happen Bollywood must go through a trying phase, must collectively want to end its affair with the underworld and must be prepared to assist police investigations. In the short term, assuming the prosecution of Bharat Shah and others goes ahead, investors of the legitimate and other kind will melt away for fear of inviting the Mumbai police8217;s attention or the mafia8217;s reprisals. If Bollywood does find itself seriously short of cash, output, earnings and employment will fall and the effects will be felt in the whole entertainment industry including its lucrative export arm. These are grim forebodings but not cause for alarm. Thus far, mafia money has been the easier option. The new circumstances ought to push Bollywood to find other sources of finance. Even after acquiring industry status, there has been no stampede to the banks because the banks8217; tough criteria for credit disbursements have been a deterrent. Banksshould not lower standards nor is the answer Mahesh Bhatt8217;s plea for loans on favourable terms from financial institutions. The answer is more professional practices at the business end of Bollywood. The murkiness there, slapdash account-keeping and the lack of rigorous financial planning are what frighten off potential lenders. With legitimate cash things will not be easy but will be a lot healthier.

In actual fact, the dimensions of mafia cash investments in the film industry are unknown. It is credibly argued that the dons have successfully turned Bollywood into a milch cow with relatively small cash stakes and actually contribute much more by way of coercion and intimidation of producers, directors, filmstars and others. 8220;Shotgun8221; production of films has been efficient what with shorter production schedules and cooperative filmstars. Since the returns all round can be very good as a result, shotgun film-making will probably survive changes in film financing. That is why a genuine clean-up requires the Mumbai police to widen and deepen its crackdown. The industry-mafia nexus at several levels has to be broken systematically. Second, to sustain its credibility the operation should not stop at Chhota Shakeel but also cover gangsters like Chhota Rajan, Abu Salem and others with known Bollywood links.