Film shoots, post-production work to resume in Maharashtra amidst safety norms

Last evening, the government of Maharashtra announced that the shooting and post-production of films, television serials, web-series and advertisement films in the state can take place under a list of conditions. All shooting activities in the state had stopped once the lockdown was announced in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Producer JD Majethia shared the news on Twitter saying, “We met the CM Shri Uddhav Thackeray ji last week. He promised to do his best for the entertainment industry. And here we are. Shootings set to restart, even before we imagined. The industry can not thank you enough, sir. The wait for fresh content is about to end.” 

Similarly, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) also thanked the chief minister for the move. “FWICE thanks Shri Uddhav Thackeray ji and CMO Maharashtra for adhering to the appeal made by us to allow the shoots, post production and recordings with proper government guidelines,” said the FWICE. 

The cultural affairs ministry has provided a government regulation (GR) under which the producers will have to adhere to certain safety norms and guidelines. Some of these include, maintaining physical distancing, personal hygiene, sanitization of the sets, presence of a doctor and ambulance on the sets, etc. 

Producers will have to apply to the managing director of the Maharashtra Film, Theatre, Cultural Development Corporation for shoots in Mumbai and to the district collector for shoots outside the city.  

Speaking about the decision, Marathi actor Subodh Bhave told The Times Of India daily, “This will be big relief for people who work on daily wages. During our interaction with the CM, we had been asked to share a plan of action, which we did, and I think on that basis, the government has taken this decision. We are yet to get copy of the standard operating procedure (SOP), but this decision is welcome.”