“It was my last semester and I was working on my thesis project. I am studying film making at the KRNNIVSA in Kerala With the floods last year,  my 4-year course had already been extended to a 5.5 year one. This year I just wanted to finish my course and get out of this campus and get into the professional work arena but it seems destiny had other plans. Corona has made it even more difficult for me to get my degree until 2021 at least.  

I’m glad I’d come home before the lockdown started, but now after being at home for almost three months I don’t know what is going to happen next. We haven’t received any official mail telling us when the college will reopen. If I call to find out, they say that we will let you know. Moreso, my campus has become one of the rescue space and quarantine boot-camp for the patients in the locality. 

All the department students from audio, cinematography, acting, editing, direction have been working with their groups for the thesis project but with the sudden break and no access to the masterclasses anymore, it has become difficult to get any proper guidance. Our course demands a lot of creativity and brainstorming with like-minded individuals and professionals. Though a few of our professors are trying to get some Zoom webinars, there is a lot of connectivity and absenteeism issue which is not helping us to make the most of the webinars either. I don’t know when I’d be able to get through this course. It feels like I am stuck with this for ages together and all my opportunities in the field are going to go for a toss soon.

We aren’t getting approval on our topics, even if we do we cannot shoot because of social distancing, all our seminars have been discontinued, a few production houses, where I’d planned to get internships are also not taking in any interns. 

Everything seems so stuck at the moment and this limbo is just making me anxious as the day passes by. My parents have spent lacs of rupees on me so that I can pursue what I want to but now I just feel like I am a disappointment for them. I can see the struggle at home, where my father is trying to manage all the expenses even with the salary cut and I am not even able to help him in any way. Neither mentally, nor financially - these COVID times are making me feel like I am a burden on my parents and nothing more,” said Shyam Deolankar, a direction student, studying at KRNNIVSA, Kerala.

Shyam is not alone. A lot of students pursuing professional courses are at sea--they don’t know how the situation will get resolved, when will they go back to finishing their course, and what’s in store in the future with them. With the new normal, would there be any jobs to take up. And this in turn is creating anxiety, stress, and lack of focus in them.