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Big releases postponed, film, TV and web series shootings halted, theatres unable to screen movies, daily wage employees struggling for their next meal… the Rs 183 billion Indian film industry is going through its worst phase because of the lockdown necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.

While the impact of the lockdown on the industry at large is still being evaluated, we take a look at how slim production and related fields have suffered in India over the past month.

Covid-19's first impact came when Reliance Entertainment on March 12 indefinitely postponed Rohit Shetty's film Sooryavanshi. The film starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif was scheduled to release on March 24. This was quickly followed by Sir, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, Haathi Mere Sathi and 83 getting postponed too. Baaghi 3 saw fewer takers in its second week, and Irrfan Khan's Angrezi Medium had to be pulled out of theatres. It eventually released on OTT platform Disney+Hotstar. Similarly, a lot of big ticket releases in regional languages have also been delayed.

Covid-19's ripple effect was felt when film bodies including Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE) and Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) decided to halt shooting of movies, TV shows and web series. Major production houses like Balaji Motion Pictures, Dharma Productions and Yash Raj Films also promptly called off all production activity. Amid this, various state governments ordered the closing down of cinema halls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on March 24 of a 21-day national lockdown sealed the fate for several projects.

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's much-awaited Brahmastra too halted production. The film which, after several delays, was finally scheduled to release December 4, 2020, now seems to be looking at an uncertain future. Shahid Kapoor's Jersey, a remake of the Telugu hit of the same name, also suspended shooting to ensure the safety of its crew.

Among the movies hit is Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi. ”I don't understand how they will manage Gangubai's production now. Its set has been created in Film City and it will start raining in June,” said veteran actor Seema Pahwa who plays a role in the film. ”I am sitting at home when I was supposed to shoot for another film and a web series. The stuff that we have committed to till December will also get pushed. The entire schedule goes for a toss, and we cannot sign new work.”

After an exciting January-February that offered a mix bag with Tanhaji, Chhapaak, Street Dancer 3D, Panga, Malang, Bhoot and Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, March-April was supposed to be set aside for Sooryavanshi and Ranveer Singh's sports drama 83 with the extended Easter weekend expected to help Box Office collection. Now it seems like Salman Khan's Eid release Radhe and Akshay Kumar's Diwali release Prithviraj could also take a hit. Karan Johar's much-awaited period drama Takht was all set to go on the floors in the coming months. Now things don't look bright for even the magnum opus.

Experts estimate the entertainment industry has already lost more than a thousand crores because of the lockdown.This is the first time in our history that the entire India box office is zero.

There have been regional strikes and shutdowns in the past, but nothing pan India. I think it will be a zero quarter which is a huge thing. The release schedule will now linger on till 2021,” trade analyst Girish Johar revealed.

According to a Financial Express report, the film industry faced a decline of 29.1 per cent to Rs 1062.4 crore in the first quarter of 2020, which stood at Rs 1499.4 crore for the same period last year.

Actor Taapsee Pannu, who was basking in the success of Thappad before the lockdown happened, said, ”I just think every business will face a little bit of financial hit including the movie business. The kind of content people will churn out will also get affected.”

Still photographer Tejinder Singh who's worked on projects like Manmarziyaan, Chhapaak, Thappad and Netflix's The White Tiger explained, ”It's a very intimate job, be it lightmen, electricians, soundmen, costume from so many hands reach the actors. You are fed by so many people, spot boys are getting you water and it is messy also. Then there is travel involved.” He said projects which could have been funded by the release of certain films by the production houses could now get affected. ”It's going to change a lot of dynamics on what film goes into production and when. The later we go onboard, the better it is. I believe nothing's going to happen before August.”

Suman Chowdhury, president ratings at Acuité; Ratings and Research, says Acuité expects a 50 per cent drop in multiplex footfalls in the next quarter particularly in metro and Tier II cities. Chowdhury predicts a lot of movie releases will be postponed and there will be erosion in earnings of listed multiplex players such as PVR and INOX.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/