MUMBAI: Earlier this month the Telangana government granted the permission to resume film and TV shooting as well as post-production work all over the state. While there are challenges there is also relief for being able to start work with safety measures. SOL India - Banijay Group founder and MD Fazila Allana and producer, creative director and actor Sandiip Sikcand have resumed shooting for their Telugu show Gorintaku. According to them, shooting during the pandemic is challenging but not impossible.
Gorintaku is a Telugu daily show that is telecast on Star Maa and streamed on Disney+ Hotstar too.
Allana told indiantelevision.com that the show was already in process with 200 episodes done before the lockdown. The shooting resumed on 18 June with all necessary precautions like masks, gloves, temperature checks, sanitation and safety protocols being diligently followed. Insurance plan has also been introduced for entire cast and crew.
In fact, she highlights that hair and make up artists are using PPE kits to ensure maximum safety. Make up products and brushes are different for different actors. Allana also mentions that as per the guidelines introduced by Star Maa, there are no group scenes and too many outdoor scenes are avoided to keep out crowding. Episodes of weddings or large gatherings are not happening.
Apart from that, there are fewer people in a team. Scripting has been rewritten to facilitate a lot more social distancing. There are no intimate scenes as well so close up chemistry shots are being compromised.
Sikcand also mentiones that children and elderly citizens are not allowed on the set. If required, elderly people are not asked to come more than four times a month.
As per Telegana government’s rule 40 people can be there on the set. However, Sikcand shares that shooting is happening with bare minimum people while the rest stay outside the set.
To make the daily soap more realistic and appealing in the eyes of audience, Covid2019 situation has been included in the script itself. In order to create a bank of fresh episodes, the entire script has been rewritten.
During the scene, the actors are wearing masks, gloves and are also using sanitizers.
He notes that it is taking more time than usual to film a scene. “For the safety and security of cast and crew, I don’t mind slowing down the production. As far as audiences are concerned, they want to see something which is real and natural,” he further says.
Both Allana and Sikcand are hoping that shooting happens smoothly and soon things go back to normal and for now, things need to be done with precautions.
