Movie biz takes a beating: Theatres closed; shootings cancelled

With cinema halls in 16 districts that share borders with other states like Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh having been shut till March 31 following a Tamil Nadu government order in light of the coronavirus threat, the fate of Tamil films like Marijuana, Kanni Raasi, Cocktail, Pallu Padama Paathuko, Gnanaserukku, Puranagar, Kaavalthurai Ungal Nanban and a few others scheduled for release this Friday (March 20) hangs in the balance.

With biggies like Master, Soorarai Pottru, Bhoomi etc. likely to hit the theatres in mid-April, these small budget flicks wanted to utilize the preceding two-week period but now that possibility has gone. Even if the situation gets better by next week, a new set of movies will be lined up for release, and given priority.

Meanwhile, shooting of films, TV and web series across the country have been cancelled.

A statement issued by the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association, Western India Film Producers Association, Indian Film and Television Producers Council, Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association and Federation of Western India Cine Employees said the organisations had decided to halt work from 19 to 31 March because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

We had earlier reported that shooting of Rajini’s Annathe, Kamal’s Indian 2 and Vetri Maaran’s film were postponed and work on Vikram’s Cobra was cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak. This has left thousands of workers jobless and the film business is likely to lose several crores of rupees.