From 'extras' to 'junior artistes': A pre-history of junior film artistes' labour struggle for unionization in the Bombay film industry, c. 1927/39/46– c. 1956.

This article focuses on the early history and struggles of film extras, known as "junior artistes," in the Bombay (now Mumbai) film industry as they sought unionization and recognition. It challenges official accounts by presenting evidence that the organization of these cine-workers began well before the commonly cited dates, tracing their efforts from the 1920s through the 1950s. The narrative highlights the precarious working conditions of junior artistes, their exploitation by middlemen called extra suppliers, and key events—such as the 1945 rape of an extra girl—that galvanized their collective action. Despite internal divisions and violent conflicts involving agents and artistes, junior artistes gradually formed unions, negotiated labor agreements, and merged associations, culminating in the establishment of the Junior Artistes' Association registered under the Trade Union Act in 1957. The article underscores the importance of recovering these "pre-histories" to better understand and support ongoing labor struggles in India's film industry.