The worsening pandemic crisis has cast a shadow over the resumption of shooting of new Malayalam movies though the Kerala Film Producers' Association (KFPA) has given its nod to register new films from August 1.
Even though the government had permitted indoor shooting with a maximum crew of 50 persons from June, the increase in number of containment zones and stringent regulations have doused the hopes of a gradual return to normalcy. The Malayalam film industry has been hit hard by the nationwide lockdown imposed following the COVID-19 outbreak since March end.
"Only six movies could be shot under the relaxation period. The chances of shooting of new movies resuming soon seem remote with the spike in the number of containment zones across the State,” says M. Renjith, president, KFPA.
"The continuity of scenes may turn difficult if a location falls under a containment zone midway of the shooting. The uncertainties will not permit the producers to stick on to the original schedule," he says.
Sujith Vaassudev, cinematographer-director, says that ensuring the safety of the people remains key in these tough times and he does not prefer resuming work amidst this crisis despite the fact that the situation has affected the financial prospects of many in the film industry.
"We have to cooperate with the efforts being made by authorities to contain the outbreak. If the shooting is absolutely essential, each and every equipment used for the work has to be sanitised. Physical distancing has to be maintained. This would incur an additional cost on the producers ," he says.
Mr. Renjith says a majority of the producers would not prefer to delay the return on investments by undertaking new projects at a time when there is no clarity on when cinemas would open across the country and abroad. "The situation in the overseas markets must also turn normal considering the fact that the collections from these regions are crucial in the overall box-office returns for a movie," he says.
