MID-DAY (February 2, 2018)

A day after it was revealed that the family of audio assistant Gopi Varma, who lost his life at a city studio on January 6, would receive compensation worth Rs 35 lakh, the Association of Sound Recordists has also decided to offer a helping hand.

The charred body of Varma, 20, was found at Kanjurmarg’s Cinevistaas studio, where a fire broke out on the set of Jennifer Winget-starrer TV show Bepannaah. B N Tiwari, president, Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) says, “An approximate amount of Rs 5 lakh will be collected through the Association of Sound Recordists and handed over to his family.”

The development comes a day after Vijay Singh Phoolka, one of the partners of the studio, had apparently offered Rs 35 lakh as compensation to the family. “Following a meeting held between FWICE and him [Singh] yesterday, he said that Cinevistaas will also be willing to give a family member a job,” Tiwari said.

The studio, he stated, would offer the family member a job of his/her desire. Alluding to the interest of Varma’s brother in graphic designing, Tiwari adds, “They can have whatever job they want. If the brother wants a graphic designing job, or one in the sound department, we will be happy to offer him that. Also, we will start an education fund in Gopi’s name for members of the [studio’s] sound association.”

Varma’s body was recovered after his father arrived at the studio to complain about his missing son, who was working on the set.