Chennai: Nithya Devi, a speech and hearing challenged VFX artist working in a visual effects company — Bot VFX India — is known to manifest perfection while working on the shots.
Even though her disability does not deter the efficiency at work, Nithya is often intimidated in meeting new people. After this correspondent initiated small talk, Nithya Devi, a team leader training a batch of speech and hearing challenged people opens up about the obstacles she had to overcome to attain what she desired the most — respect sans pity.
Two years ago, when she joined as a trainee at the visual effects company in Eekaduthangal, which was doing work on various Hollywood movies, including, Captain America, Independence Day, Heart of the Sea, Nithya had not the slightest inkling of going up the ladder of success soon.
Initially, it took an immense amount of time to comprehend the shots and to use software like Rotoscopy and Paint. Thanks to the cooperation of her colleagues who wrote the shots and explained everything to her without minding the additional time taken, Nithya could get a grip on it in a month. Signalling this correspondent using sign language, she says, “My colleagues never let me down. I thank them for my success.”
Attributing her success to her father, Narendran who is a bus driver, Nithya explains how her father motivated her towards painting. “It was his motivation that prompted me to take up B.Sc Visual communication,” she mentions, with a sense of pride showing in her eyes.
The company’s respect for the fraternity has been an encouragement for many such people who took up visual effects. For commerce graduates, M. Shalini (24) and R. Swarna (26), who are now interning at Bot VFX India, working with designing software was the ultimate definition of fun.
“We were idle for two years. The opportunity to intern here came at the apt time when we were distressed after receiving no response calls from many offices. It was easily understood that our disability played a role in us getting declined,” said the duo.
Their enthusiasm is regained and the girls find no difficulty to learn new subjects: Be it removing the properties, changing the background and matching the creations with the movements.
Echoing a similar tale, Vijay Kumar (36), the VFX Paint artist said, “It took some time to get accustomed to using computerised tools. My colleagues helped me in each and every level.”
All the seven interns and three employees belonging to speech and hearing challenged fraternity express a common feeling towards the company: Gratitude.
The company, which is also planning for a fresh batch of the training programme, aims to recruit as many physically challenged people as possible, said Sreyans Bardia, Director, India Operations, Head of Productions, Bot VFX India.
“It feels interesting to see them work and interact with others using the sign language. We are expecting a solid batch of more than 20 people in the near future. We would recruit the interns after conducting an assessment at the end of the training Programme,” Sreyans Bardia told DC, adding that the training period would be extended depending upon the time.
