Rachana Dubey and Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; March 15, 2020)

The COVID-19 epidemic has impacted life across the country, including Metros like Delhi and Mumbai. On Friday, the Maharashtra government announced that gyms, malls, cinema halls and swimming pools will be closed till March 31 to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Film releases, live shows, concerts and sporting events have also been postponed. In keeping with the ongoing situation, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) is planning to put all the film, TV and ad-film shoots on hold for a few days as a preventive measure.

FILM BODIES TO MEET TODAY
FWICE’s President Birendra Nath Tiwari told BT, “Shoots for films, TV shows and ads are like public gatherings, and masks and sanitisers alone won’t help in such a situation. For the sake of people’s lives, we, too, can stop work for a few days.” In fact, FWICE has been speaking to various producers’ bodies regarding this. A meeting between members of the Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association (IMPPA), Western India Film Producers’ Association (WIFPA), Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) and FWICE will be held today to decide a plan of action.

‘WE WANT TO DRAW UP A WORKABLE PLAN’
Ashoke Pandit told BT, “The idea is not to put a blanket stop on work. We want to draw up a workable plan to ensure that if individual producers, technicians and actors decide to continue work, they are safe. Having sanitisers, masks and medical help at hand and maintaining hygiene are crucial and sets will be monitored for that. More than 50 per cent of this industry works on daily pay packets. Those workers will suffer a great deal if shoots come to a complete halt,” he told BT.

FWICE has already written to producers, requesting them to refrain from shooting in countries affected by COVID-19. They have also been asked to report if any individual who has travelled from a COVID-19-affected region is present on their set. Feroz Khan, the chairman for health and safety vigilance in the FWICE, said, “A few film shoots are on in Lucknow and Banaras, but they are following strict regulations. Anyone with any symptom of COVID-19 is being sent to the nearest medical facility with their payment cleared up to that day.”



 TV SETS IMPLEMENT STRICT MEASURES
Meanwhile, the television industry has also implemented measures to fight the situation. While shoots can’t be stalled because of telecast demands and a paucity of bank of episodes, the makers and the crew of TV shows have come together to spread awareness. The Indian Film and TV Producers Council (IFTPC) has issued a directive to all producers, asking them to take the necessary precautionary steps. J D Majethia, chairman of IFTPC and the producer of TV show Bhakharwadi, said, “We have requested broadcasters to urge producers to educate their crew and also maintain hygiene on their sets. We are putting up posters in two-three languages with simple instructions about precautionary measures. We are also encouraging those suffering from any COVID-19 symptoms to bring it to our notice so that we can help them get immediate medical attention. We already have doctors visiting sets to check every worker thoroughly. Those who aren’t feeling well will get paid leaves. We have also requested junior workers to not send in their replacement, which happens in most cases, so that there is no confusion regarding who is working on a given day”.

‘THOSE UNWELL NEEDN’T FEAR PAY-CUTS’
Siddharth Kumar Tewary, producer of RadhaKrishn, shared, “We have asked the office staff to work from home. Those who can’t, like the ones working in the post-production and edit departments, are advised to report only when there is work. On the set, you will find everyone with a mask on. We have ensured that bottles of sanitisers are kept at every 10 to 15 feet. We have also formed a team that ensures that everybody washes their hands and sanitises them frequently. Actors’ make-up rooms, lunch area and bedrooms are disinfected and cleaned every half an hour.”

Kinnari Mehta, producer of Maddam Sir, told us, “Apart from providing sanitisers and soaps, we have instructed each and every member of the unit to practise respiratory hygiene. We also make sure that people bringing food for the unit are wearing gloves all the time. Everyone wears a mask during the shoot and post it.”

Mahesh Pandey, producer of Vidya, says, “We have ensured that sets are cleaned frequently. We have also distributed masks and sanitisers to everyone. Anyone who has been feeling under the weather has been asked to take an off without any fear of a pay cut.”
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TV SHOW TO AIR AN EPISODE ON CORONAVIRUS

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is currently shooting an episode on the epidemic. Dilip Joshi, who plays Jethalal in the show, says, “Coronavirus is a pandemic and, unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation doing the rounds. So, our producer Asit Kumarr Modi and the creative team have decided to spread awareness through our show.”