No make-up for women
By Arun Roy

EVER knew that the world’s largest film industry does not have a single female make-up professional? This little known aspect of gender discrimination came to light when a senior Tamil film actress in Chennai complained of spending four humiliating hours holding back her tears while the make-up man took his time patting greasepaint on her belly and thighs.

"I had no choice, but to suffer the ordeal because there are no make-up women around," said Padma Natarajan in her complaint to the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI). "The Make-up Union does not allow women to join the profession."

The protest promptly found its echoes in Bombay where a similar situation prevails. Several leading actresses complained of "discomfort" while make-up men did them up, to the extent directing how they should drape the saree.

In the absence of women professionals, many have resorted to doing their own make-up, even though it is not always appreciated. The Bombay Union of Make-up Artistes steadfastly refuses women membership in its fold.

Sunita Kotiyan, a make-up artiste who works mainly for television and advertising shorts said that she approached the union after being in the profession for seven years. "They refused me membership on the sole criterion that I am a woman."

She pointed out that when dress designers and hairdressers can be women, there is no reason why the make-up profession should be a male preserve. "This is absurd because in every field women are working shoulder-to-shoulder with men and excelling."

Said P. Rajendran, secretary of the union: "We have a tradition to uphold. We know there is a demand from actresses for female make-up artistes. But the union is against taking them. My job is to safeguard the interests of my members."

Some women activists have joined forces and are threatening to take up the issue in court.

Maharaja Features)