MUMBAI: Television’s veteran director Mukesh Kumar Singh who has directed popular and iconic shows like Mahabharat, Naagin 3, Mere Sai, Tenali Rama, Qayamat Ki Raat, Razia Sultan, Sankatmochan Mahabali Hanuman among others, talks about the precautionary measures that producers and their cast and crew should keep in mind once lockdown gets over and the industry begins shooting. 

He shared, “The future of the whole TV and film industry is at stake. Everyone related to it is worried about how we are going to start again. How will we survive this pandemic if it stays for months to come (and certainly it is)? Not more than 5% of the industry people can survive without work for long. It is almost three months in India and five months in the whole world when Covid 19 started spreading. Now we have some knowledge on how we can restrict the spread and how we can save ourselves from this virus. Yes, of course there is no news about antidote or vaccine yet, but we have the knowledge of precaution measures and with this knowledge we know for sure that by doing these three things we have the chances of controlling the virus almost 99.9% and even God cannot do anything about rest .1%.  And these three things are; 1. Put a mask on your face. 2. keep at least 2 meters distance from each-other and 3. Wash your hands before touching your mouth, nose and eyes. 

Now if you will think deeply, rather rationally taking these precautions is difficult but not impossible. The most difficult thing to achieve in all these is following social distancing because shooting always happens in chaos, especially television shoots. People always run here and there in urgency. In one call of director or production, 10-15 people rush simultaneously. This too can be controlled but only if the unit will not be forced to give certain amounts of footage every day. Mostly the chaos happens because everybody runs and rushes to achieve that footage. It is a known fact that every project has a limited budget and because of that these kinds of things happen, but different kinds of days need different solutions. There are many other ways to keep the things under budget. 

Also, to achieve social distancing, scenes have to be written accordingly. There should be no close proximity scenes, no scenes with crowds, no physical fight etc.; but there is another option. Why can't we show the reality in shows? Why can't we think that in the time of virus spread, characters can also wear face masks just like we are doing in normal life and sit and talk from a distance? We can also shoot scenes with a limited crowd showing how to maintain social distancing and wearing masks. This way we cannot only show the reality and shoot many varieties of scenes, but also educate our viewers how to maintain social distancing and keep themselves safe. Historical and Mythological shows are a little bit difficult to shoot, but they always were and it is not impossible to find ways. Computer graphics can be a great help in crowded scenes and clever writing and choreography of the scene can help a little. There are other options too; the whole unit can wear PPE kits during shoot or, kits specially made to wear over the neck. Second option is, everybody can get tested every day, but this will be possible only if the result of testing can come really fast and I hope by the time we start the shoot, cheaper rapid testing kits will be available. One more option is to quarantine the whole unit at one place like we do when we go outdoors. Nobody going outside means they are not contacting anybody else except the crew members. So, the chances of getting infected will be very less. Many people have concerns about food, but till now there is no confirmation that this virus spread because of food. If food can be cooked at the location only and served hot with keeping the distance in mind also if everybody will use their own plate, this difficulty can also be conquered. They have to avoid raw food for some time and to avoid crowds at once, lunch time should be divided.

In shooting, close contact is unavoidable for three departments, makeup, hair and costume. For them, there are three options again- One, they should be quarantined for sure at the shooting location only, they should not travel every day. Secondly, at least they should be tested almost every day and third, actors can use their own personal makeup and costume or, they should be taught to do these things themselves with minimum help from others. These departments can also work with compulsory PPE kit on body and minimum face to face contact. Other departments like spot, light, sound, camera, setting boys, assistants and production can manage their work with keeping the ethics of social distancing in mind. It is difficult but not impossible.

Some other suggestions are if crew members are not quarantined at one place, then everyone should be provided shared private transport, they should not take public transport and also, it should be made sure that they are not coming from contaminated or red zones. Now disinfecting tunnels are available, so everyone and every material coming inside the floors should go through this tunnel without any exception. 

Set and makeup rooms should be sanitized before and after the shoot. Focus pullers should use remote control instruments. Lighting and setting should get a little extra time to do their work.

The work place means sets or outdoors, should have ample space to accommodate the crew with 2 meters distance. Crew should be taught to shoot in new conditions for one or two days prior to the start of actual shoot.

It will be better if people will carry their own water bottle and production should install purified water plants where they can fill the bottle without any contact.

Some people are suggesting keeping a Covid19 manager to look after all the precautions. It should be made sure that they are outsiders and cannot be manipulated to keep the shooting going on at any cost. They must have the power to stop the shooting if guidelines are not followed.

Immunity is another, rather one of the most important things to look after. Makers should ensure that people should not work extra hours and exhaust themselves. They should get proper sleep and less stress. It is a known fact now that people with poor immunity are more vulnerable to this virus. So, measures should be taken to boost the immunity of crew members. Instead of regular tea, herbal tea recommended by Ayush Ministry should be served twice or thrice.  Milk mixed with turmeric is also a very good immunity booster that can be served instead of coffee and tea.  

And if unfortunately, someone gets sick even after taking all precautions, he/she should get adequate medical cover and compensation. I know these measures are not easy to execute, many unknown challenges will also appear when we start actual shoot, but when your existence is under threat you have to change, you have to adapt, you have to survive and live. This is the time when every stakeholder, the broadcasters, producers, actors, technicians, people from creative departments, all of them should come together, compromise a little bit and support each-other. 

In our shows, we have always shown the stories of fighters who win against all odds of life, it’s time for us to become one. This lockdown has proved that the entertainment industry is not a luxury, it is one of the most basic needs of human kind. If people have spent their days inside home without much fuss, the entertainment industry is one of the biggest contributors. We should feel proud that we are the people who provide escape from fear and anxiety, we can make a sad person laugh, we can uplift the mood of a person down with depression, we can motivate a person who has lost all his/her hope. These are not easy jobs; we are creators, we are motivators, we are entertainers. By doing our work, we are serving the human kind in these difficult times. We cannot take a back seat. We have to rise and shine and we will….against all odds.”