Aamir Khan calls off Laal Singh Chaddha's schedule in the region following Sino-India clash in Galwan Valley, considers shooting portion in Kargil
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 6, 2020)

The ambitious story of Laal Singh Chaddha has taken actor-producer Aamir Khan and director Advait Chandan to Kolkata, Delhi, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Amritsar so far. The unit had two major schedules pending in Delhi and Ladakh when the nationwide lockdown brought its shoot to a grinding halt in March. Even as Khan is certain about not resuming shoot until October, the superstar — along with co-producer Viacom18 Motion Pictures — has decided to cancel the Ladakh schedule in light of the India-China military standoff along the Galwan Valley.

A source reveals, "Given the current scenario, shooting in Ladakh is out of the question. So, Aamir, Advait and the top brass at the studio are considering shifting the venue to Kargil. The final call will be taken in the coming weeks."

The film, also starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, is an official adaptation of Tom Hanks-starrer Forrest Gump (1994). It was originally slated for a Christmas 2020 release, but has now been pushed to 2021.

In contrast to several filmmakers who are planning to go back to work, Khan has apparently informed the co-producers that he does not wish to put the cast and crew at risk by resuming shoot. "With some of Aamir's staff members testing positive for Coronavirus last week, the actor is all the more certain that he will not return to the set until the situation is under control. He also pointed out that some countries that opened up are now experiencing a second wave of the virus. Though a significant portion of the movie remains to be filmed, the creators and the studio have unanimously decided to exercise caution and hold off the shoot for now."

mid-day texted studio head Ajit Andhare, who confirmed that the Ladakh schedule has been called off.

Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; July 6, 2020)

We had earlier told you that several film titles based on coronavirus have been registered, and now, lockdown and Galwan Valley are the latest words to feature in film titles. A source from a producers’ association tells us, “Maddock Films has registered the title Galwan Valley.”

Apparently, several filmmakers are exploring options for titles related to Ladakh and Indo-China, however, no other title has been registered yet. Ajay Devgn, too, making a film on the same topic.

TITLES RELATED TO THE LOCKDOWN HAVE ALSO BEEN REGISTERED
Filmmakers have showed interest in film titles related to the lockdown, like Corona Lockdown, and India Lockdown, among others. A source from Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC) says, “We have received a query for the title Lockdown. The title Lockdown L Locha has been registered by Saregama Ltd.”

A film on the plight of migrant workers during the lockdown, titled Atmanirbhar, is to set go on the floors in August. It will tell the story of 15-year-old Jyoti Kumari, who cycled all the way from Gurgaon to her village in Darbhanga with her debilitated father as a pillion rider. She will also star in the film. Shine Krishna, who is directing the film, tells us that Sanjay Mishra has been roped in to play Jyoti’s father.

CORONA-BASED TITLES A HIT WITH FILMMAKERS
While Aanand L Rai has registered Coronavirus, Kumar Mangat has registered COVID-19. Reports also say that Madhur Bhandarkar’s production house has registered the titles Corona 2020, Corona Lockdown and India Lockdown. Madhur Bhandarkar said, “I always make films on topical issues so I will take up this issue. My production house has registered coronavirus and lockdown related titles.”

Corona Pyaar Hai, Corona 2020, One Weapon Corona, and Corona — The Deadly Virus are some of the corona-related titles which have been registered.

FILM TITLES REGISTERED BASED ON CURRENT EVENTS
- Galwan Valley
- Lockdown
- Lockdown L Locha
- Atmanirbhar
- Coronavirus
- COVID-19
- Corona 2020
- Corona Lockdown
- India Lockdown
- Corona Pyaar Hai
- One Weapon Corona
- Corona – The Deadly Virus

As the ‘boycott China’ chorus grows louder, we find out what’s at stake for Hindi films in China
Prashant Singh and Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 19, 2020)

Of late, China has emerged as a lucrative market for Hindi films, though it’s still not anywhere near other overseas countries such as US, UK or Europe. PK which released in China in 2015, Dangal in 2017, Secret Superstar, Bajrangi Bhaijaan (BB) and Hindi Medium in 2018 and Andhadhun have had dream run at the China box office.

However, the present situation in eastern Ladakh, where 20 soldiers of the Indian Army were killed in a violent confrontation with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley late on Monday, has posed the question of whether Indian films will cease to release in the neighbouring country.

While Dangal earned a whopping ₹1,908 crore, Secret Superstar raked in ₹874 crore. Likewise, PK made ₹831 crore, even as Andhadhun touched ₹324 crore figure in China, while BB also crossed ₹300 crore mark.

No more number games
Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani refuses to look at the balance sheets. “If 20 of our soldiers have been brutally killed, there’s no question of even talking or thinking about having our films released there, or how much financial losses — miniscule or big — it will entail. Hypothetically, if we are in such a tense situation with a country that contributes in a big way to our overseas film business, will we think of releasing films there? No, I don’t think so,” he says.

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, whose Kaabil released recently in China, admits that China is “undoubtedly the fastest growing movie market in the world”. “But Hindi films don’t have a definite market share there yet, with a very negligible business. So, it’s not like we are going to lose out on a huge pie if we skip China,” says Gupta. Exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi puts it in perspective. “It’s a producer’s call. Money-wise, you don’t stand to lose much. So, our filmmakers can skip it,” he says.

A high probability
Film trade expert Amul Vikas Mohan feels that film industry is most likely to take a stand on the matter. “I will be shocked if they don’t. I understand that China is a brand new market, and movies are doing well there. But regardless of the financial aspect, the patriotic feeling is much stronger and that will affect decisions,” he says. Trade analyst Atul Mohan also agrees that when emotions run high in the country, it won’t be business as usual for the film industry.

Not a big blow
Despite the whole monstrosity about the China market, Rathi notes that revenue-wise, not releasing films in China will not make much of a difference to the overall scheme of things.

“China has a policy where they allow only a limited number of foreign language films to release. So, we weren’t looking at the release of more than three to four Indian films there anyway. Plus, the business policies that the Chinese entertainment industry has is such that out of the big money that a film makes, a very small share comes to the producers,” Rathi explains.

The Covid factor
While it indeed is lucrative for Indian filmmakers to release their films directly on 25,000 screens in China, the Coronavirus pandemic has anyway dented that prospect and cast a cloud of uncertainty about theatres opening in such large numbers.

Joginder Tuteja says, “It will take two months for an Indian film to get a clearance for release there. The films which are going to release are anyway old, they will go there, release silently and come back. It won’t make much of an impact,” he shares.

The big rush!
Till now, a number of Hindi films have hit Chinese big screens starting with 3 Idiots and PK among others. Of late, Hindi films like Hichki, Andhadhun, Kaabil and Mom released in the neighbouring country to varying degrees of success. In April, reports suggested that Hrithik Roshan-starrer Super 30 will release in China once the situation becomes ‘normal’ after Coronavirus pandemic. We tried to reach out to Reliance Entertainment Group CEO Shibasish Sarkar about the same, but he refused to comment.