MUMBAI: While the Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray asked the film and TV industry to resume shooting, the IFTDA (Indian Film & TV Directors Association) has sent a letter to Mr Thackeray to consider two amendments in the guidelines issued. 

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The guidelines given had directed the film unit to have a doctor and nurse at each shooting site and not allow members of Bollywood and TV who are 65 and above to shoot. 

The letter, signed by IFTDA President Ashoke Pandit, reads as follows: 

To

Shri Uddhav Thackeray

Hon’ble Chief Minister, Maharashtra State 

Sub: Our sincere thanks for the GR released by the state pertaining to the resumption of works in the Media and Entertainment Industry. Our suggestions for the changes in the GR. 

Dear Sir,

On behalf of all the crafts of the artists, workers and technicians of the entire media and entertainment industry of Maharashtra, we would like to sincerely thank you for your intervention and your immediate action pertaining to the resumption of the works in the industry. We would also like to thank Shri Aadesh Bandekar for all his efforts for mediating and convening the zoom meeting with all the prime stake holders of the Industry to discuss and decide upon all the parameters concerning the health, safety and security of the actors, workers and technicians belonging to the entertainment sector. 

We are glad to note that each and every point that we had presented & discussed in the above meeting has been considered and implemented in the GR released by the Government. All the clauses that are mentioned in the GR are in line with the requirements raised by the stake holders of the Industry. However, we would like to request you to please revisit the below 2 clauses mentioned in the GR: 

1. As per the GR, any person above 65yrs of age shall not be allowed to work Sir, let us inform you that major legendary actors viz. Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Paresh Rawal, Annu Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Dharmendra, Shakti Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Pankaj Kapur, Jackie Shroff, Danny Denzongpa, Dalip Tahil, Tinnu Anand, Rakesh Bedi, Kabir Bedi and others. Legendary Directors, Film Makers & Writers viz. Anil Sharma, David Dhawan, Subhash Ghai, Shyam Benegal, Mani Ratnam, Prakash Jha, Shekhar Kapur, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Mahesh Bhatt, Priyadarshan, Gulzar, Javed Akhtar and others who are above 65 yrs are actively working in the industry. This clause is therefore impractical since it would restrict some of the great luminaries of our industry. 

2. To have a Doctor and nurse stationed at each shooting premises We would like to bring to your kind notice that the state is already facing issues due to non-availability of the Doctors and nurses to cope with the increased number of patients from the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore it is not practical to have a doctor and a nurse to be stationed at each shooting premises. Instead we suggest having a Doctor and Nurse available area wise at the shooting locations.  

We hope our above suggestions are more practical and are presented to you considering the facts of the Media and Entertainment Industry. We request you to consider our appeal on the same and make the necessary changes in the GR accordingly. 

We look forward to your favourable response at the earliest. 

Thanking you, 

Yours sincerely,

For Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association 

(Ashoke Pandit)

President. 

CC: Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee

Secretary Cultural Affairs.

Govt of Maharastra. 

Ashoke Pandit’s publicist confirmed that the letter has been dispatched to Mr Thackeray and Mr Mukherjee. 

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CREDITS: VICKEY LALWANI