With precautions in place, the Punjabi entertainment industry is trying to regain its momentum
Binnu Dhillon and Gurnam Bhullar are going to star in Zee Studios’ next Punjabi film Fuffad ji. Directed by Pankaj Batra, it is touted to be a period family drama with a shade of comedy in it. About shooting in pandemic, the executive producer Mashkoor Alam says, “We are taking all necessary precautions to fight against corona. We are using adequate measures to sanitize the location before shoot, providing mask and sanitizer to our crew. We have to be extra careful in terms of following social distance, using sanitizer and wearing a mask for full day.”One really can’t go back to the way things were before. “The pandemic has laid bare fundamental deficiencies in our system. With leaner crews, social distancing on sets, masks, sanitizers and shift systems, a lot has changed since shooting resumed. But we are still fighting our battles. The industry is regaining its momentum and will soon be at the pace where it was,” says Shariq Patel, Chief Business Officer, Zee Studios.By and by some projects are starting, director Param Chahal, who shot for Korala Maan’s song Badnam Ishq early in 2021 is due to shoot next in Patiala on Tuesday. “We are working with a small crew of 15, have taken the required permissions, ensured that all on sets have taken the first shot of the vaccine,” says Chahal.The things are dismal but the show goes on. “There are up to a 100 films awaiting release. There are more on the floors. Only when cinemas open that one can look forward to releases,” shares Manraj Rai from Saga.
