Hollywood legend and four times Oscar nominee Tom Cruise has captivated audiences worldwide with his unique brand of stunts. The star’s dedication to realism, fuelled by a desire to enhance storytelling, rates him as one of the best entertainers in the industry. Hence the news that his performance in his latest film ‘Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning’ has earned him a Guinness World Record comes as glad tidings for the large legion of film buffs who can never have enough of the evergreen star who has helmed the ‘Mission Impossible’ series both as an actor and producer for nearly three decades now. The very fact that fans flock the theatres to witness his daredevil stunts every time a new edition hits the screens is a testimony of the popularity of ‘Ethan Hunt’ who is shown to attempt the impossible in pursuit of his goals in the movie series.
The actor has presumably set the record for the most burning parachute jumps by an individual after jumping out of a helicopter 16 times with fuel-soaked chute set ablaze in a stunt for the final installment in the action franchise.
Extraordinary feats that defy every conceivable notion of human endurance limits and performed without any fear of one’s own life have been entertaining and amusing people for ages now.
‘Endeavours’ where one puts one’s life at risk to regale and win an audience’s appreciation does seem to have a certain amount of lunacy attached to them. Some however equate ‘taking risks’ as being that ‘adventurous’ trait they are blessed with. Yet, every time one hears of a stunt, it is the risk factor involved that pops up in one’s mind. For, no matter how cautious one is, there is always an element of risk when such attempts are made. Moreover, the revelation that no insurance company covers risks emanating from daring activities, often involving physical danger, performed for exhibition and entertainment, is not encouraging either. As one of the most popular mediums of entertainment, the world of cinema is rightly called a realm of infinite possibilities.
In India, cinema is part of the milieu. In a country where fans swear by their idols, film celebrities have come to occupy statuses of demigods for the millions who have always been in awe of the megastars who have ruled the silver screen over the years. As a crucial element of many action films, stunts have been around from the early days of cinema and have evolved significantly with the changing times. Encompassing the dangerous, physically demanding, and often impressive feats performed on screen, stunts sequences whether performed by actors or stunt professionals, require specialised skills.
The surge in big-budget action films over the past few years has ensured that stunt performers are much in demand. Even though these fearless and faceless men and women bring graphic action scenes to life, it is shocking to know that they continue to risk their lives for a pittance. Despite getting a raw deal, stunt performers have been putting their lives on the line just so that the on-screen hero gets all the applause. With numerous factors impeding their safety considerations, it nevertheless comes as a shock to know that most of these stunt artists sign on fully aware of the vulnerabilities they are exposing themselves to. For many though this is the only source of income!
According to reports, actor Akshay Kumar, famous for his backside-kicking daredevil stunts, has publicly expressed his deep gratitude and respect for stuntmen in Bollywood through open letters and public statements. He has called for better recognition and appreciation for stunt performers. According to newspaper reports; some years back, the actor helped initiate an insurance scheme for Bollywood stunt artists, providing them with health and life insurance coverage for accidents during performances,
Fatal accidents on film sets have occurred throughout climatic history. Though there is unanimity in the film fraternity about making life easier for those putting their lives at risk to increase the entertainment quotient in films, there seems to exist an ambiguous factor that makes embracing such measures in totality an impractical move for production houses. One understands that while stunt performers can be insured, it however depends on the specific policies and arrangements made by the production company.
While some traditional film insurance packages might exclude hazardous stunts, there are specialised stunt insurance policies available. These policies can cover a range of activities and are often subject to underwriting approval. Apparently, Bollywood stunt artists often lack insurance coverage due to the industry’s perceived high-risk nature and the insurance companies’ reluctance to provide policies for such activities.
It is in such a scenario that Tom Cruise’s widely publicised recognition by the Guinness World Records has come. Yet, it is not for the first time that Guinness World Records has recognised numerous stunts and stuntmen in the film industry. However these ‘honours’ are yet to translate into a new chapter for stunt performers in the film industry as they continue with their ‘behind the scenes’ existence, albeit seeking safer working conditions and more robust safety protocols on the sets. Will their voices ever be heard!
(Pachu Menon is a senior
columnist and author based in Goa.)
