Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 23, 2020)

It has been three weeks since the state government issued General Resolution for resumption of shoots in Mumbai. As many as nine shoots, including Kumkum Bhagya (right), Kundali Bhagya (above), Tujhse Hai Raabta, Qurbaan Hua, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Punjabi, were to resume today. But because there is still no clarity on key issues like sanitisation, safety, payment schedule, insurance and shift timings, they have been called off. CINTAA (Cine and Television Artistes Association) and FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) had an online meeting on Monday and issued a statement to the effect. Work has been at a standstill since March 19 and the TV fraternity was hopeful about getting back to work after the government-issued Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs).

Several actors received ‘Declaration Forms’, a copy of which is with Mirror, from their producers. However, CINTAA issued a notification to its members, not to sign up. Amit Behl, senior joint secretary and chairperson, CINTAA, said, “If I’m not going to shoot until these concerns are addressed, how can I expect my association members to resume work?”

Aayam Mehta (left), an actor in Qurbaan Hua, informs that the soap kicked off on February 25. After 19 episodes, it stopped, following the Coronavirus lockdown. Pointing out that discussions between actors, producers’ associations and broadcasters have been on for a while, he reasons that 80 per cent of the unit are daily wage earners and their interests need to be taken into consideration. “As soon as certain issues are resolved, we will start shooting. But till then, we will have to wait a little longer,” he says.

Amir Jaffar, producer of Tujhse Hai Raabta and Qurbaan Hua, added that as of now, TV shoots are scheduled to resume from June 25, subject to all state-mandated SOPs being adhered to, including insurance cover for the cast and crew.
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A day before TV shows were to go on floors, FWICE, CINTAA call off shoot; claim IFTPC has failed to meet insurance demands
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 23, 2020)

With the managing director of Maharashtra Film, Theatre and Cultural Development Corporation (Film City) having granted approval last week, the shoot of several television shows — including Kumkum Bhagya, Kundali Bhagya, Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega and Sa Re Ga Ma L'il Champs — was to begin today. However, only 24 hours before the cameras were to roll again — thus marking the end of the three-month-plus industry shutdown — the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and Cine And TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA) called off the shoots. Their bone of contention was that the Indian Film & TV Producers' Council (IFTPC) had not met their demands of working in eight-hour shifts and providing insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh for workers.

Birendra Nath Tiwari, president, FWICE, reveals that these conditions had been put on the table in May. "Some of our demands, including the settlement of dues and timely payment, have not been met by the IFTPC. They announced Rs 10 lakh insurance cover instead of Rs 50 lakh. So, the FWICE and CINTAA jointly decided that technicians and artistes will not report to work."

Amit Behl, joint secretary and chairperson, outreach committee, CINTAA, indicates that the IFTPC declared that producers can resume shoots between June 23 and June 25, without consulting other cine bodies. "After we discussed our concerns with the IFTPC and broadcasters in a meeting last week, we were waiting to hear from them. The broadcasters had asked for discounts citing lack of advertising revenue, but the budget cuts were not discussed at length. There was no clarity on the COVID cover. [Amid all this] the IFTPC and the broadcasters took the call of resuming work."

J D Majethia, president, TV wing, IFTPC, conceded that the shoots wouldn't take place on Tuesday. "We will decide the insurance cover [soon] and the shoots will begin after that. Working in eight-hour shifts is not possible. The business is built on working 12 hours a day. The producers will take care of every aspect — from monitoring temperature to having medical aid."