Producers Willing to Go to Hyderabad to Shoot: IMPPA Chairman

IMPPA has sought some modifications in guidelines issued by Maharashtra government.

On the sets of Pavitra Rishta.

(Photo Courtesy: YouTube)

The Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA) has written to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, requesting some modifications to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued for the resumption of shooting post the lockdown. The Indian FIlm and Television Director's Association (IFTDA) had also recently written to the chief minister requesting the same.

Speaking to The Quint, IMPPA chairman, TP Aggarwal said that someproducers are willing to go to Hyderabad to start shooting since the sets are ready there. He said, “There are so many actors who are above 65. We can't have a 25-year-old playing the role of a 65-year-old. They are saying cast a family in one show, how is it possible? You can't do that. You have to have proper actors, you can't have a family as the cast of a show. Some producers are willing to leave Mumbai and go shoot in Hyderabad because the sets are ready.”

“It’s not possible to have doctors and ambulance on the set since there’s a shortage of the same. We can have this arrangement on call. I have also suggested that producers have a video recording for each day about the measures being taken and temperature being recorded each day.”

TP Aggarwal, Chairman, IMPPA

He added, “The Maharashtra govt is also worried about that but we haven't gotten clear guidelines. Producers who had to start shoot in Film City have not been able to do so because no information has been given the officers in Film City. It looks like shoots will take time to resume. I have also shared the guidelines of the Karnataka Govt with them so they can pace things up and allow shoots.”

IMPPA’s request to modify certain guidelines. 

IMPPA’s request to modify certain guidelines. 

The Maharashtra government had recently allowed the resumption of television and film shoots in a phased manner. The announcement mentioned that permissions would have to be sought from the respective district collectors before commencing.

In the letter to the Gujarat CM, the film body states that while in one of the clauses it is mentioned that permission has to be obtained from the district collector and magistrate for shooting, another clause says that due permission needs to be obtained from the “corporation, city police, traffic police, tourism, archaeology department etc”. IMPPA feels that the latter is an additional burden on the producer and concerned officials who are busy with COVID-19 work and hence should be down away with.

Similarly, another clause states that PPE kits should be worn by make-up artists, which the film organisation feels isn’t required as masks, gloves and face shields are enough protection.