Last week, the Tamil Nadu government gave the green signal for small screen shooting to commence along with a list of precautionary measures. This decision came after several appeals were made by the Film Employees’ Federation of South India (FEFSI) and the South Indian Small Screen Producers Association to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edapadi K Palaniswami.
Read: Tamil Nadu Government Allows Resumption Of Shoot For Television From Tomorrow
Amongst several other rules, the government permitted only a crew of 20 members for indoor and outdoor shooting. Unable to film with a crew of 20 members, both the organisations appealed to the Minister for Information and Publicity Tamil Nadu, Kadambur Raju requesting an increase in the number of crew members permitted for small screen shooting.
On Saturday, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edapadi K Palaniswami announced that from May 31, 2020, a crew of 60 members will be allowed on set. The crew will have to adhere to all safety norms announced previously without fail.
- Both indoor and outdoor shooting is allowed in corona-free zones. No shooting is permitted in containment zones.
- All shooting equipment, trailers, vehicles, sets, and locations must be sanitised properly before commencing and after wrapping up the shoot.
- No passersby are allowed on set.
- Except for the cast, all technicians and crew members present in the sets must wear masks and maintain social distance at all points while filming. On completing their shots, artists must immediately adorn their masks and follow social distancing norms.
- All artists, technicians, and crew members must sanitise their hands at regular intervals.
- Anybody with symptoms like cold, cough, and breathlessness should not be permitted on sets. Instead, they must be sent immediately for medical examination.
- Acquiring prior permission from the Commissioner of the Chennai Municipal Corporation for filming in Chennai and the respective district collectors for filming at various districts is compulsory.
- The rules and regulations laid down by the central and state ministers from time to time have to be adhered to by all crews.
The government order laid emphasis on acquiring prior permission from the Commissioner of the Chennai Municipal Corporation for filming in Chennai and the respective district collectors for filming in various districts. It said that the production houses must acquire permission just once for the entire filming of a particular serial.
Huge relaxation given by @CMOTamilNadu towards shoot of #television serials. Now for TV you can shoot with 60 members unit, if you follow the government guidelines and safety regulations. Earlier only 20 members were allowed.
A big boost for TV serial producers and workers. pic.twitter.com/lZR7KTK02n— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) May 30, 2020
Happy with the decision, actresses Khushboo Sundar and Radhika Sarathkumar who are also part of the small screen federation, thanked Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edapadi K Palaniswami for accepting the appeal, and Minister for Information and Publicity Tamil Nadu, Kadambur Raju for helping them out.
Thank you @CMOTamilNadu @Kadamburrajuofl for facilitating to start work for television. We will need to work in a efficient and practical way to ensure safety for all concerned.
— Radikaa Sarathkumar (@realradikaa) May 30, 2020
Once again a huge thanks to @CMOTamilNadu and Minister @Kadamburrajuofl avl for understanding our plight and coming forward with a helping hand by allowing 60 member unit to start shooting for #SmallScreen Its a huge relief. We promise to abide by the rules and safety measures🙏
— KhushbuSundar ❤️ (@khushsundar) May 30, 2020
