CHENNAI: One checks if Kamal's costumes are ready; another makes sure Arya comes on time; they clear the floor, `clap' the board, they do just about everything.

Five woman assistant directors discover that Kollywood is the place for fun, learning and hard work...

It was Aarthi Sivakumar's dream to enter the film industry. She tried contacting Santosh Sivan for over a year before she could finally meet the director. He put her on to Sreekar Prasad and Janaki Viswanath. She worked with Ms. Viswanath in `Kanavu Meippada Vendum' and Mr. Sivan in the award-winning `Navarasa.'

"I wanted to get into cinema from my school days. I studied literature as my mom insisted that I complete graduation," says Aarthi.

Sruti Hari, a graduate in Visual Communication, says, "I am passionate about music, dance and theatre. Cinema is therefore the natural place for me to be." She is working with actor-director Revathy on a tele-film.

"Cinema and the arts always fascinated me," says Amitha Madan, whose first film is `Pudupettai.' Her entry happened overnight, literally. The Electronic Media graduate met director Selvaraghavan and left for work the following day.

Soundarya Srinivasan, a student of Visual Communication heard that director Vishnuvardhan was looking for assistant directors. "I showed him my short film and even gave my CV," she says laughingly. Wavelengths matched and then `Arindum Ariyamalum' and more recently `Pattiyal', happened.

"The mighty film industry always intrigued me," says Divya Madan, also a student of Visual Communication.

She met Gautham Menon and gave up her job that very night. Divya has worked in `Garshana' (Telugu version of `Khaaka Khaaka') and `Vettayadu Vilayadu.'

"Watching a film evolve in front of your eyes is the ultimate experience one can get," says Soundarya. One forgets all the hard work, fights and "bad food."

However, being yelled at is routine.

"In fact, it is reassuring. You are at least important enough to be yelled at. I feel miserable when I am not scolded for a mistake," says Amitha. "It gives us a sense of belonging," adds Divya. "Oh, nothing could be as insulting as your director doing what you are supposed to," says Soundarya.

They feel being allowed inside a director's creative space is a "privilege." "I objected to a scene that portrayed the heroine as being emotionally weak. My director was nice enough to remove that bit," says Amitha.

As for treatment on the sets, "there's absolutely no gender discrimination. You are treated like a guy," says Divya.

However, when it comes to handling kids, the job would be theirs. Soundarya recalled baby-sitting while shooting a song for `Arindum Ariyamalum.'

Erratic schedule is something they have got used to. "My mom knows if I say I'll be back by eight, I mean twelve," says Soundarya.

"Seeing our directors work 24x7, we know there is lots to be learnt," adds Divya.

Their families were initially wary of the profession.

Soundarya's parents visited the sets a couple of times and saw how nice and caring the crew was.

"Safety is an issue in all professions. Didn't we hear of the Bangalore call centre incident?" asks Sruti.

"The crew is like a family. Revathy came for my wedding and even the mehandi party," she says.

"We don't intend waiting for years to make our movie," they admit.

"We are always recording elements of everyday life, which we want to use in our film," says Arthi. "Our heroines will be sensible and practical.

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