Cine bodies appeal to CM Uddhav Thackeray to allow resumption of shoots from June, citing mounting losses; tie up with Goregaon hospital for workers’ treatment at discounted rate
Ram Setu are among the films that will resume shoot post the lockdown
The entertainment industry in Maharashtra has raked up severe losses in the 39 days since it went into shutdown, in adherence with the restrictions levied by the state government. With the Covid-19 cases in Mumbai witnessing a dip over the past few weeks, makers of films and television shows are hopeful that the shoot suspension will soon be lifted. Several cine bodies, including the Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA), Indian Film & Television Producers’ Council (IFTPC) and Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), sent a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the weekend, making an appeal to this effect.
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JD Majethia, chairman, TV & web, IFTPC, states, “We have requested the CM to allow us to shoot from the first week of June.” Majethia, who has been conducting the shoot of Wagle Ki Duniya in Gujarat since April-end, asserts that resuming work in Mumbai is necessary as setting up base in another state bleeds the makers dry and leaves little employment opportunities for daily-wagers.
Uddhav Thackeray
This letter comes on the back of the committee’s request for a few concessions, within days of the shoot suspension in April. Ashoke Pandit, president, IFTDA, shares, “We had requested the government to allow us to continue our post-production work, as it is done in a controlled environment with a few people. But we didn’t get a response to the letter. Now, our only appeal is to consider showbiz as one of the important industries. If we don’t resume work by June, it will be a huge loss for us and we won’t be able to bounce back. Our daily-wage workers are suffering.”
JD Majethia and BN Tiwari
The unions are awaiting the go-ahead from the CMO to kickstart the cine workers’ vaccination, which will be partly sponsored by Aditya Chopra. In the interim, they have tied up with SRV Hospital in Goregaon for the treatment of workers, COVID or otherwise. “If any of our workers falls sick, he can avail 40 per cent discount on treatment. Also, they don’t have to make any initial payment when getting hospitalised,” says BN Tiwari, president, FWICE.
Also Read: FWICE president BN Tiwari: Vaccine centres can be set up in Mira Road, Madh
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