Film Shooting Can Be Resumed In Phased Manner: KCR

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao today said that the film shootings and production works which had been stopped due to the lockdown would be resumed in a phased manner.

He suggested that everyone concerned should follow the lockdown conditions and preventive measures to contain Covid-19, and conduct shootings strictly following self-regulation.

He also instructed the officials concerned to prepare guidelines for how to conduct film shootings in the state.

The CM was speaking after meeting with prominent film personalities at Pragathi Bhavan.

State ministers Talasani Srinivas Yadav and Niranjan Reddy, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, and film personalities Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, D Suresh Babu, Allu Aravind, N Shankar, Rajamouli, Dil Raju, Trivikram Srinivas, Kiran, Radhakrishna, Koratala Siva, C Kalyan, Meher Ramesh, Dhamu and others participated in the meeting.

The discussion focused on the resumption of film shootings, revival of production work and reopening of cinemas. The filmmaking professionals requested the CM to accord permission to film shootings and reopening of theatres.

The CM responded positively to their request. He said that since lakhs of people were depending on the film industry, there was a need to allow film shootings, production work and reopening of theatres in a phased manner.

He suggested that initially indoor production works with low numbers of people should be commenced. In the next phase, in June, film shootings could begin, he opined.

Lastly, based on the situation then, a decision on the reopening of cinemas could be taken, he said.

The CM said that the film industry should survive but the coronavirus should also not spread, and hence film shootings with low numbers of people and adherence to guidelines could be taken up.

The CM asked the film personalities to have a meeting with the Cinematography Minister, the CS and the officials concerned to finalise guidelines on how many people should be allowed to be part of the shootings and what precautions should be taken. Later the government would issue categorical guidelines on the matter and give permission to shootings, he said.