If you instantly thought of Sholay, you know you are a movie buff just like me, after all we are a nation obsessed with Bollywood! Today, with OTT platforms changing the narrative, while the “traditional” Bollywood has undergone a transformation, the emotions that resonate are the same. If at all they might be bolder, definitely not muted.
And why not, we are an emotional lot and wear our heart on our sleeves. You can imagine the rush of emotions that one would feel as we walk down the corridors and pathways where cinematic legends and stalwarts like Jaya Bachhan, Naseeruddin Shah, Danny Denzongpa, Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Rao have perfected their craft. Goose Bumps!!
Yes, all these Bollywood legends (and many more!) have a strong connect with amchi Pune! They are all the alumni of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). An iconic institute on Law College Road, Deccan should be on your must-visit list!
The FTII has a rich history behind it, the campus is built on the premises of the erstwhile Prabhat Studio. Prabhat Studios was founded by the legendary filmmaker V. Shantaram and other partners in Kolhapur. They soon moved to Pune in 1933 owing to the city’s close proximity to Mumbai. After a rocky start, at one point in time Prabhat studios were counted as the one of the “big three” of Indian cinema, which included New Theatres of Calcutta and Bombay Talkies of Mumbai. The FTII today occupied the Pune premises of Prabhat Studio in 1960 after the studio shut shop in 1953. Students of FTII continue to use the studio premises. Interestingly the students of FTII continue to work at the world’s oldest functioning film shooting studio.
Such is the illustrious name that Prabhat Studios built for itself – the road on which the FTII is is called “Prabhat Road”. It is the road starting from Deccan Corner and ending at Law College Road. I’ll dedicate another piece on Prabhat Studios at a later date.
The institute is run by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and in 1971 began in-service training programs for Doordarshan – India’s Public Broadcaster. If you’re looking to explore their courses, their website provides a great amount of information. Their courses are held on-campus in Pune as well as off-campus across different centres pan-India. Legendary Filmmaker and Actor (yes!! Very few know he has done a few roles as the mainstream hero in movies too!!) – Shekhar Kapur is the Chairman of the FTII.
Some of the notably important places that should be on your to-do list when you visit the FTII are:
Shantaram Pond: Originally constructed to serve as a location for shoots, is now a tranquil scenic spot within the campus. While its tank-like structure is usually empty, it is functional till date and is filled up for shoots.
Wisdom Tree: The old banyan tree is one of the most iconic visuals at the campus. The decades old tree has been witness to many conversations, plays and creative geniuses. The chai conversations, intellectual discussions that the vibe of the wisdom tree has people naturally gravitating towards it.
Prabhat Museum: Perhaps, my most favourite place to visit within the FTII campus. A sprawling museum which is divided into five sections is almost like a mini pilgrimage site for cinema lovers. The first two sections showcase memorabilia and artefacts while the other three take you down memory lane with photos and archives from different movies and actors. You must check out their costumes and posters section!!
Museum timings are from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm with a nominal fee of INR 10 for Indian citizens and INR 250 (approximately USD 3.5) for Non-Indians. Chances are you’re a movie buff just like me and are hence still on this article. This is one place you cannot miss visiting.
“Picture Abhi Baki Hai Mere Dost” , So head out today to the FTII and roam the corridors of this iconic institution and script your own special edition of memories. “Jaa… jeele apni zindagi”!! 🙂
Pune Metro 