The list is quite long. Movies across various languages have been shot in Goa. Movies like Dil Chahta Hai, Simmba, Singham, Go Goa Gone to name a few are among the Bollywood films shot in the state. The Bourne Supremacy was shot in locations around Goa. And yes of course numerous movies in Malayalam, Tamil and other Indian languages. It has been good business. Then of course there have been the various serials and movies for OTT platforms that were shot in the state. The local production houses offered their services, local actors auditioned and got parts and yes everyone made a pretty penny. Now the third wave is doing its course. There is an industry which comprises local talent as well as personnel who have moved in from Mumbai and other places due to the quality of life in the state. So then what has been the reaction of the industry to this wave in Goa?
All Goa Line Producers’ Association
secretary Sandeep Kotecha said the business had been affected. He said “You
have to understand that due to the coronavirus, movies are not enjoying a good
run at the cinemas. The number of people who can watch a movie in one show has
been restricted. Investors, financiers are walking out of projects. Hardly any
shoots are taking place in Goa. It is now usually for a day or maximum three
days. Now several music albums are being shot in Goa”. When asked if OTT web
series were being shot in Goa, he said budgeting systems for the web series
were very complicated. The state government he said has not helped matters by
increasing rates. Anyone interested in shooting on the beach he said had to pay
Rs 50,000 per day to the CRZ authorities. Then he said the Captain of Ports
would charge another Rs. 50,000 per day. The rates he said were on the higher
side which made it less attractive now. Other states like Punjab, Orissa, and
Haryana he said were giving rebates. Goa he said was now losing clients. The
film city he claimed was coming up in UP and nothing had moved in Goa despite a
demand being made for the same as far back as 2003. He said at this time a few
videos for songs, small films and some documentaries were being made and that
was it. He hoped the situation would improve once the wave subsided.
Tony Costa the President of the Goa Line Producers’ Association
said all work had come to a standstill. He said “Restrictions are in place due
to the pandemic and artists are reluctant to come out to shoot. Artists based
in Mumbai and Goa don’t want to shoot in these conditions. Several web series
and film shootings have stopped. However music videos are still being shot.
This is because in many cases the singer is the main artist in the song and crew
is small so they take the risk. However work on serials and everything else is
on hold”. The situation he said was getting tense around the Christmas week. He
said he was shooting till December 22 and then it would get too expensive due
to the Christmas holiday. He said he was part of a crew that shot around that
period of time because of a deadline. He said the resumption of work would
depend on whether the numbers would increase or decrease. He said it could
still be dicey because the crew was usually in excess of 100 and it would be
difficult to maintain sops. Now with also with the elections scheduled and the
regulations that would now be in force it would be even more difficult. He said
“There is a restriction on the number of people who can come together in one
place. We have take permissions from the returning officer of whichever
constituency we are shooting in. Importantly they will be different conditions
and realities in each constituency which the returning officer will have to
consider before giving permission to shoot. It is a blessing for us because no
shooting is happening now because it would be very difficult to manage all
this”.
Another big name in the industry in Goa is Shiva Baba Naik. He
said everything had stopped or postponed due to the virus and the elections. He
said “No big shoots are coming. Some documentary films perhaps. No big stars,
there is nothing. Restrictions are in place with regards to crowds gathering in
one place. The work all stopped in December he said. “It will take a month or
more to start again. Everyone is waiting. We usually get work from Mumbai and
Chennai. Now with the COVID cases increasing once again, everything is at a
standstill. However, a lot of film shooting is happening in Lonavala and
Delhi.” Naik said.
That
is the state of affairs in Goa and one can only hope the situation improves and
work commences soon.