Bollywood Award Season To Take A Hit Due To Covid 19 Pandemic In 2021, Due To Few Films And Social Distancing Norms?

2020 has been hard for the movie business as hardly any films got made and released in theatres this year. After Tiger Sroff’s Baaghi 3 and Irrfan Khan’s Angrezi Medium releasing for a short span in March the cinemas were in a lockdown until recently. With such few films in consideration and the pandemic still going it looks like the award season in 2021 might take a hit too.

According to a Bollywood Hungama report, big award nights like Zee Cine Awards, Filmfare Awards, Screen Awards might stand cancelled in 2021. A source tells the publication, “These ceremonies involve celebrities from all walks of lives congregating in huge numbers at a particular venue. In times of social distancing, that won’t be a practical thing to do. And most importantly, there have hardly been any releases in 2020. After March 13, there has been no major release in the post-lockdown period. Only Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari released in this season and a couple of small films are expected in December. That’s it. You can’t hold awards for a handful of films in a year like Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior, Chhapaak, Street Dancer, Panga, Malang, Thappad, Angrezi Medium etc.”

These award nights are a big attraction on TV and while Filmfare has already announced OTT based awards in the coming year it might so happen that these awards still go forward without an audience and pre planned performances from stars. Another source tells the portal that these awards shows might combine 2020 and 2021 films and take place collectively in 2022.

As 2020’s end comes closer and we will soon have some clarity on the fate of the award season which so far looks bleak.