by NR INDRAN / INT

Mumbai : Whistling Woods International, the film and media institute held a thematic session titled & Eyes a prelude to its new documentary course.The programme was a culmination of roadshows that commenced on August 5th in Chennai, followed by informative sessions on documentaries at Delhi and Kolkata.

Held on the campus of Whistling Woods International, some of the most prominent names in documentary filmmaking  like Bishakha Dutta, Paromita Vora, Anil Zankar and Samar Khan were present. The session was moderated by Ravi Gupta  the Dean of WWI and CEO of Mukta Arts.

This grand session began with the unveiling of the two documentary style videos that will act as an addendum to the ngs of Protest⠡lbum  the work of  Susmit Sen (Founder & Lead Guitarist, Indian Ocean) and Sumangala Damodaran (granddaughter of former communist leader and Kerala chief minister EMS Namboodiripad).

The Songs of Protest album consists of 9 songs sung in various Indian languages and has been collated from the pre independence era. Created by the students of Whistling Woods (Rahul Badwelkar, Raghu Naik, Kavya Sharma, Abhiraj Rawale and Shara Sethna), the documentary style videos will lend to an online viral campaign that hopes to inspire people to get up and ᡣt⮠One of the 2 videos created, has been inspired by Anna Hazare and is based on corruption and the collective conscience of a society. The other video focuses on the lack of drinking water in the country. Keeping in sync with the current issues, these songs and supporting videos invoke the spirit of patriotism and hark back to the pre-independence days.

As the unveiling was underway, Susmit Sen said, 㔨e glow of our independence, 64 years back has been gradually relegated to the back of our memories. Beneath the layers of amnesia, can be found a legacy from the years when people were alive enough to want to live and breathe free. We wanted people to re- live those days, re- breathe them.

And the students have interpreted it in a unique way.䠋avya Sharma, a Cinematography students at Whistling Wood Student and an enthusiastic Rock-climber when off campus feels䔨rough the songs of protest not only did we become aware, we were enlightened; it gave us something definite to work on, something solid. The unveiling was followed by the Big Debate underlining the dilemna that beguiles many a behind Documentary filmmaker: How Real is Real? The panelists for this debate were Paromita Vora, filmmaker, writer, teacher and curator, working with fiction & non-fiction, Bishakha Dutta, Indian journalist and film-maker, best known for her work documenting the role of women in different aspects of Indian society and Samar Khan, filmmaker, head-TV division-Red Chillies. The debate began with a loaded discussion on the art of documentary film making, and how it mirrors life. Bishakha Dutta quoted, ㄯcumentary films are life as it is, that is, life filmed surreptitiously. They present montages of current and archival times, explore and are composed on various event and subjects.䠁dding to it, Paromita said, 㔨is is an art of exploration.

You state stories buried deep down in memories and vocalizes the voiceless. An audience therefore finds it to be a  more credible source of information.The debate unearthed the various layers of a documentary film. The session gave the students a chance to understand what holds true and how to create the truth.

Subhash Ghai  Chairman, Whistling Woods International, Mumbai  speaking on the grand finale said, 㗥 at Whistling woods International through ቦamp;EYE⠡re widening the scope of documentary film-making in India and creating more awareness amongst the masses. These seminars across the city were with a purpose; to give students an overview on the industry prospect.

I feel proud to know that the videos shot by WWI students for two songs from the ᓯngs of Protest⠡lbum, have been unveiled today. It will hopefully inspire other students who want to specialize in the art form to draw inspiration from reality whilst adopting the visual elements and poetic aesthetics of cinematic storytelling without loosing out on their unique point of view.

The event began in high spirits and ended on an even higher note. The energy was contagious and electrifying as this rich and rare art was acknowledged and applauded.

Founded by Subhash Ghai and promoted by Mukta Arts Limited & Filmcity Mumbai, Whistling Woods International is AsiaⳠlargest Film, Television, Animation and Media Arts institute, providing world-class education in all technical and creative aspects of Film, Television and Media arts, offering courses, in the areas of Acting, Animation, Cinematography, Direction, Editing, Producing, Screenwriting and Sound. Whistling Woods International also offers, IndiaⳠfirst MBA in Media & Entertainment in association with Manipal University.

The Academic Advisory board & Faculty of Whistling Woods International comprises of academicians and accomplished industry professionals. Leading Indian & International filmmakers, actors & technicians like Rakeysh Mehra, Vishal Bharadwaj, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Farhan Akhtar, Nandita Das, Vidya Balan, Karan Johar, Ashok Amritraj, Shyam Benegal, Farah Khan, Danny Boyle, Leonard Goldberg, John Landis, Rajkumar Hirani, Nagesh Kukunoor and several more conduct regular Masterclasses.

The curriculum at Whistling Woods International is a unique hybrid of theoretical and practical aspects combining art with business principles for all specializations. The courses at Whistling Woods International are designed to ensure that students’ learnings are collaborative and industry oriented.

Whistling Woods International has initiated affiliations with several International film schools. These include pioneering activities in India like credits transfer and International student co-productions. Some of the schools that are affiliated with the Institute are Deakin College Australia, Griffith College Australia, Bradford College UK, Syracuse University USA & NYU Tisch Singapore.

These unique elements in   the teaching methodology have seen Whistling Woods International’s student body growing from strength to strength over the past four years. More than 15% of the student body comprises of International students .

The Institute is highly committed to ensuring that its students move into the industry in creative and rewarding areas of employment. Student placements have been initiated with several leading media organizations like Aamir Khan Productions, Anil Kapoor Productions, BIG Animation, Balaji Telefilms, Dharma Productions, Excel Entertainment, Fox Star Studios India, Mukta Arts Limited, Paprikaas, Red Chillies Entertainment, Reliance BIG Entertainment, Walkwater Films and several more. Whistling Woods⠣ontinues strongly on its path to be the institute of choice for media education globally.

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