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Tag: Whistling Woods International

  • Isha Koppikar’s Rocketship soars to new heights

    Isha Koppikar’s Rocketship soars to new heights

    MUMBAI: Looks like Isha Koppikar’s latest project is truly sky-bound. Her new film Rocketship has taken off in style, bagging official selections at not one but two international film festivals, the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival 2026 and the Mokkho International Film Festival 2025.

    For Koppikar, the recognition feels deeply personal. Having built her career without a godfather, she chose to collaborate on this film with students from Subhash Ghai’s Whistling Woods International, offering young talent a chance to shine. The partnership reflects her belief that grit and opportunity, not privilege, should power one’s journey in cinema.

    Expressing her excitement, Isha Koppikar said, “This is such an honour, not just for me but for the entire team behind Rocketship. I’m especially proud of the students who worked tirelessly and are now getting the recognition they deserve. Dreams really do take flight.”

    The film’s trailer, which dropped recently, drew wide praise for its emotional tone and strong performances. Rocketship, directed and written by Arjun Menon and produced by Harmanraai Singh Sehgal, tells a moving story about the unbreakable bond between a mother and her daughter, a tale of strength, sacrifice and dreams that refuse to burn out.

    Starring Isha Koppikar alongside young talent Amayira Sharma, the film promises to tug at heartstrings while celebrating the spirit of perseverance. With Rocketship earning critical attention on the festival circuit, it seems Koppikar’s latest venture is not just a cinematic journey, it’s a story of hope taking flight.

     

  • Subhash Ghai chronicles his legacy in “Karma’s Child”

    Subhash Ghai chronicles his legacy in “Karma’s Child”

    Mumbai: Subhash Ghai, renowned as Indian cinema’s ultimate showman, invites readers to experience his cinematic brilliance with the release of “Karma’s Child: The Story of Indian Cinema’s Ultimate Showman,” co-authored with Suveen Sinha and published by HarperCollins. The memoir captures the iconic director’s remarkable journey, from shaping Bollywood’s landscape with his blockbuster films to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers through his institute, Whistling Woods International.  

    Ghai’s career is marked by his mastery in crafting films that blend grandeur, compelling storytelling, and unforgettable music, transforming Bollywood from the late 1970s to the 1990s. Out of the fifteen films he directed during this era, eleven—including iconic hits like Kalicharan, Vidhaata, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Saudagar, Khal Nayak, and Taal—became massive blockbusters, solidifying his legacy in Hindi cinema.  

    The memoir also chronicles Ghai’s pioneering spirit, from revitalising theatres during the peak of video piracy to launching film music on audio CDs, and expanding the reach of Hindi films to global markets. His ability to direct multi-starrer films and introduce new talent who rose to stardom reflects his visionary eye for innovation in cinema.  

    Now, as the founder of Whistling Woods International, Ghai’s influence extends beyond filmmaking. His institute stands as a beacon of film and creative arts education, shaping storytellers and visionaries for the future.  

    Reflecting on his memoir, Ghai shares, “Countless stars are born in our film industry and just as many fade away. What you hold in your hands is the story of how a young man came from nowhere, faced the challenges before him, and carved his own path. This book is the story of the Hindi film industry as it unfolded before my eyes from the 1960s till today.”  

     

  • DroneAcharya and Whistling Woods launch drone centric courses for filmmaking

    DroneAcharya and Whistling Woods launch drone centric courses for filmmaking

    Mumbai: The stage was set aglow with stars and drones as DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations Limited, India’s first Listed  Drone Startup and a DGCA certified drone training organization, collaborated with the esteemed Whistling Woods  International to unveil a dazzling array of drone-centric courses in Mumbai. The event,graced by luminaries such as Whistling Woods International founder & chief mentor Subhash Ghai, and Indian cinema stalwarts  Karan Johar and Shashank Khaitan, Meghna Puri Ghai and Rahul Puri, celebrated the convergence of film-making and cutting-edge drone technology.

    This collaboration introduces a groundbreaking suite of Drone – centric courses that are set to revolutionize the world of  film making and cinematography. This exciting collaboration promises to provide aspiring filmmakers and drone  enthusiasts with the knowledge and skills they need to soar to new heights in the industry.

    The launch of these courses is a significant milestone in the ever – evolving landscape of drone technology, marking a transformation in the way drones are integrated into various sectors. The courses are designed to cater to the diverse interests of students, including Aerial Cinematography, DGCA certified drone pilot training, Geographic Information  System (GIS) for Drones, and even Drone Building. This comprehensive range of offerings ensures that students  gain hands-on experience in the field of filmmaking, creating virtual environments through drone surveys for animation and VFX and are well – prepared for a future in the drone industry.

    DroneAcharya, known for its pioneering role in drone training and innovation, has rapidly become a driving force in the Indian drone ecosystem. They are the first Private DGCA certified drone training organization to achieve over 550 drone pilot training. The collaboration with Whistling Woods International, led by Ghai, is a testament to their dedication to fostering innovation in filmmaking and education.

    “We’ve had drones as a part of our curriculum for a long time. However, earlier this year, the Central Government announced the liberalized Drone policy for the nation, and in lieu of that, we’ve decided to partner with an  organization known as DroneAcharya, which is a publicly listed company, to set up programs specifically meant for  drone courses,” added Whistling Woods International VP, business head & emerging media head Chaitanya Chinchlikar.

    DroneAcharya founder & managing editor Prateek Srivastava commented, “This partnership with Whistling  Woods International is a giant leap forward in our mission to democratize drone education in India. We believe  that our courses will not only equip students with the necessary skills but also inspire them to push the boundaries of creative expression through drones.”

    “This is a revolutionary convergence of art, technology and applications. The collaborative effort between DroneAcharya  and Whistling Woods International is set to make Mumbai a hub for drone education and innovation in the film  industry. The courses will be taught by industry experts and professionals who bring a wealth of experience to the classroom,” added DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations CTO Amit Takte.

    DroneAcharya director – HR & culture Nikita Srivastava also commented, “Adding to the theme ofCelebrate  Cinema 2023, the future of storytelling is definitely going to be the adoption of advanced technologies like Drone  and Artificial Intelligence. Apart from this, we look up to the highly influential and nationally – recognized network of individuals to spread awareness about the legalization of drones. This will contribute, in a big way, to the vision of our  Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of making India a Global Drone Hub by 2030.” 
    Enrollments for the drone-centric courses are now open, and interested individuals can visit the official websites of DroneAcharya and Whistling Woods International for more information and registration details.

  • Whistling Woods International to stream short films made by its students on Disney+ Hotstar

    Whistling Woods International to stream short films made by its students on Disney+ Hotstar

    MUMBAI: Whistling Woods International (WWI), film, communication, and creative arts institute, announced its collaboration with Disney+ Hotstar. With this association, viewers of Disney+ Hotstar can now stream entertaining and thought-provoking short films created by the students of WWI. Over the coming weeks, selected films will be uploaded on the platform on a regular basis and will be available to viewers under the ‘short films’ section. Newly uploaded films can also be found in the ‘what's new’ section.

    Through a unique teaching methodology, which combines academic rigour with practical experience, the students of WWI receive an unrivalled education in film, communication, and creative arts. This experience has seen the institute’s students and alumni contribute immensely to India’s media and entertainment domain, and led to the creation of several highly-acclaimed, award-winning films, many of which have been chosen to be featured on the platform.

    Covering a wide range of genres and topics, the short films to appear include Alaksha, a fast-paced drama set against the backdrop of the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai and winner of The Perfect 10 award at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, 2018; Hoop Diaries, a 2014 sports drama centred around the story of a girl overcoming a deeply personal trauma; Manorath, inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s short story ‘The Postmaster’ and winner of the Best Screenplay award at the Pune International Film Festival, 2015, among others.

    WWI president Meghna Ghai Puri said, “Whistling Woods International is extremely proud to announce its association with Disney+ Hotstar. Through this venture, viewers across India can choose inspiring and thought-provoking films created by our talented students. By providing a platform to these aspiring filmmakers, to be able to showcase their work, we hope to inspire future generations of artists to pursue their dreams, and follow the institute's motto of Do What You Love.”

    Other films which have already been featured on Disney+ Hostar include Film City, Kanchey, Aalav and 500 Rupay, which has received seven awards, 6.5 million YouTube views and a nomination in Filmfare.

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  • Advertising Maverick, mr. Niteen Bhagwat conducted an engrossing masterclass for the students of school of media & communication at whistling woods international

    Advertising Maverick, mr. Niteen Bhagwat conducted an engrossing masterclass for the students of school of media & communication at whistling woods international

    MUMBAI: Whistling Woods International's (WWI) School of Media and Communication (SMC) hosted an interactive session for its students with Mr. Niteen Bhagwat, Vice Chairman, FCB Interface, Mumbai. During the session, Mr. Niteen Bhagwat shared insights on social media platforms and how to optimise them to the fullest to garner insights on consumer mindset and conduct research-based activities.

    The industry veteran with more than three decades of experience explained to the student’s usage of social media to conduct competition analysis across various sectors. Besides, Mr. Niteen Bhagwat, also, highlighted how social media can be used to gauge the reach of brands, celebrities and their effect on the audience at large.

    During the session, Mr. Niteen Bhagwat elaborated on the domain of advertising. Through various campaign examples, he advised the students on how to ‘cut through the clutter’ while communicating with the target audience. He further described the importance of research in disseminating the message to the consumer and went on to explain the effectiveness of media modeling as well to the engrossed students.

    As the event concluded, Mr. Niteen Bhagwat was honored with a token of appreciation amidst the applause of an appreciative audience.

  • SonyLiv to present Piyush Mishra starrer ‘Kathakaar’

    SonyLiv to present Piyush Mishra starrer ‘Kathakaar’

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks’ (SPN) digital entertainment platform SonyLiv, is known to stay at the forefront with its rich and exclusive content offering to its viewers. The platform is now presenting the movie- Kathakaar to its audiences on 19 December.

    The film is in line with SonyLiv’s association with the film division of Whistling Woods International (WWI), Connect1. Renowned actor and lyricist Piyush Mishra plays the lead in the short film.

    “We are delighted to showcase Kathakaar exclusively on our platform. The narrative is powerfully evocative and we hope our viewers will enjoy watching it.Through our association with the film division of Whistling Woods International, we aim to present more exclusive and riveting entertainment to our viewers in the near future,” said SPN EVP and head digital business Uday Sodhi.

    Conceptualised by the students from WWI, the movie was also one of the semi-finalists in the Foreign Narrative Category at 43rd Annual Student Academy Awards. The film is directed by Abhimanyu Kanodia, produced by Shraddha Singh and Naveed M, captured by Mitesh Parvatneni, edited by Pavi Trehan and sound designed by Kunal Lolsure.

    Kathakaar is the story of Prakash, an old theatre projectionist who loses his job owing to changing technology and goes back to his native village. Depressed with this sudden loss of job, he struggles to figure out what to do with his life. After he succeeds in making a crying child laugh with his storytelling skills, he gathers his confidence, takes a chance to become a storyteller for the entire village, thereby rediscovering his passion. The narrative of Kathakaar, welcomes this new beginning in the life of Prakash.

    Mishra added, “With Kathakaar, I went purely with my gut feeling. I reject a lot of scripts, but there was an X Factor about this one. I also had a question in mind as to how so much could be projected in such a short time span of 10 minutes. As an actor, the character I play grabbed my interest. Having said that, I had no clue that the film would be so well made, and would go on to do so well.”

    The film has so far won 13 awards, including 3 international awards and has been officially selected at 26 film festivals across the globe. Amongst international honours, the film has bagged awards at renowned film festivals such as the 5th Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival, 5th Washington D.C. South Asian Film Festival, Washington D.C., II International Motivational Film Festival, Russia and 6th Jagran Film Festival, Mumbai.

  • SonyLiv to present Piyush Mishra starrer ‘Kathakaar’

    SonyLiv to present Piyush Mishra starrer ‘Kathakaar’

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks’ (SPN) digital entertainment platform SonyLiv, is known to stay at the forefront with its rich and exclusive content offering to its viewers. The platform is now presenting the movie- Kathakaar to its audiences on 19 December.

    The film is in line with SonyLiv’s association with the film division of Whistling Woods International (WWI), Connect1. Renowned actor and lyricist Piyush Mishra plays the lead in the short film.

    “We are delighted to showcase Kathakaar exclusively on our platform. The narrative is powerfully evocative and we hope our viewers will enjoy watching it.Through our association with the film division of Whistling Woods International, we aim to present more exclusive and riveting entertainment to our viewers in the near future,” said SPN EVP and head digital business Uday Sodhi.

    Conceptualised by the students from WWI, the movie was also one of the semi-finalists in the Foreign Narrative Category at 43rd Annual Student Academy Awards. The film is directed by Abhimanyu Kanodia, produced by Shraddha Singh and Naveed M, captured by Mitesh Parvatneni, edited by Pavi Trehan and sound designed by Kunal Lolsure.

    Kathakaar is the story of Prakash, an old theatre projectionist who loses his job owing to changing technology and goes back to his native village. Depressed with this sudden loss of job, he struggles to figure out what to do with his life. After he succeeds in making a crying child laugh with his storytelling skills, he gathers his confidence, takes a chance to become a storyteller for the entire village, thereby rediscovering his passion. The narrative of Kathakaar, welcomes this new beginning in the life of Prakash.

    Mishra added, “With Kathakaar, I went purely with my gut feeling. I reject a lot of scripts, but there was an X Factor about this one. I also had a question in mind as to how so much could be projected in such a short time span of 10 minutes. As an actor, the character I play grabbed my interest. Having said that, I had no clue that the film would be so well made, and would go on to do so well.”

    The film has so far won 13 awards, including 3 international awards and has been officially selected at 26 film festivals across the globe. Amongst international honours, the film has bagged awards at renowned film festivals such as the 5th Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival, 5th Washington D.C. South Asian Film Festival, Washington D.C., II International Motivational Film Festival, Russia and 6th Jagran Film Festival, Mumbai.

  • Sony LIV partners with Mukta Arts to showcase Whistling Woods International’s short films

    Sony LIV partners with Mukta Arts to showcase Whistling Woods International’s short films

    MUMBAI: Whistling Woods International (WWI), one of the world’s leading film, communication and media arts school announced a partnership with Sony LIV, Sony Pictures Networks’ (SPN) premium digital video entertainment platform via Mukta Arts’ digital venture, Connect.1. Underlining the brand’s commitment to enhance the users’ entertainment-viewing experience, Sony LIV’s association with WWI and its digital venture Connect.1, will entail showcase and promotion of short films produced by students of the institute. These films will cater audiences across all age groups and will be featured under the section, “Mini Talkies”, on Sony LIV.

    Curated by Sony LIV, the short films will be of varied genres ranging from drama, thriller, action to romance and comedy, including several award winning films which have been screened at national and international film festivals. This partnership marks a new beginning for the WWI students to create outstanding and engaging content, inspiring the extended community in the media and entertainment fraternity, adding to Sony LIV’s existing diverse and growing library.

    Uday Sodhi, EVP and Head – Digital Business, Sony LIV, said, “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Mukta Arts, which will further enhance our extensive content library and allow our users to sample the latest content developed by the upcoming talents trained at Whistling Woods International. This association opens up avenues to collaborate with Connect.1 – the digital division of Mukta Arts, to create engaging and entertaining content for our users and establish Sony LIV as the premier digital destination for top-quality entertainment.”

    Subhash Ghai, Founder & Chairman, Whistling Woods International; Chairman, Mukta Arts Limited, added, “Firstly, I would like to congratulate Mukta Arts and Sony LIV for the association which will open a range of opportunities for both the brands. Over the time, Sony LIV has established itself as the go-to destination for today’s mobile-first consumer. This association will showcase the works of the students of Whistling Woods International, helping us amplify the reach and recognition of our talented students.”

    Headquartered in Mumbai, Mukta Arts, is an Indian film production company known for its association with several blockbuster movie hits such as Taal, Pardes and Ram Lakhan amongst others. These successful hits from the production house of Mr. Subash Ghai have pre-defined directorial credibility for Mukta Arts in the history of Indian Cinema.

    Do watch the short films here:

  • Sony LIV partners with Mukta Arts to showcase Whistling Woods International’s short films

    Sony LIV partners with Mukta Arts to showcase Whistling Woods International’s short films

    MUMBAI: Whistling Woods International (WWI), one of the world’s leading film, communication and media arts school announced a partnership with Sony LIV, Sony Pictures Networks’ (SPN) premium digital video entertainment platform via Mukta Arts’ digital venture, Connect.1. Underlining the brand’s commitment to enhance the users’ entertainment-viewing experience, Sony LIV’s association with WWI and its digital venture Connect.1, will entail showcase and promotion of short films produced by students of the institute. These films will cater audiences across all age groups and will be featured under the section, “Mini Talkies”, on Sony LIV.

    Curated by Sony LIV, the short films will be of varied genres ranging from drama, thriller, action to romance and comedy, including several award winning films which have been screened at national and international film festivals. This partnership marks a new beginning for the WWI students to create outstanding and engaging content, inspiring the extended community in the media and entertainment fraternity, adding to Sony LIV’s existing diverse and growing library.

    Uday Sodhi, EVP and Head – Digital Business, Sony LIV, said, “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Mukta Arts, which will further enhance our extensive content library and allow our users to sample the latest content developed by the upcoming talents trained at Whistling Woods International. This association opens up avenues to collaborate with Connect.1 – the digital division of Mukta Arts, to create engaging and entertaining content for our users and establish Sony LIV as the premier digital destination for top-quality entertainment.”

    Subhash Ghai, Founder & Chairman, Whistling Woods International; Chairman, Mukta Arts Limited, added, “Firstly, I would like to congratulate Mukta Arts and Sony LIV for the association which will open a range of opportunities for both the brands. Over the time, Sony LIV has established itself as the go-to destination for today’s mobile-first consumer. This association will showcase the works of the students of Whistling Woods International, helping us amplify the reach and recognition of our talented students.”

    Headquartered in Mumbai, Mukta Arts, is an Indian film production company known for its association with several blockbuster movie hits such as Taal, Pardes and Ram Lakhan amongst others. These successful hits from the production house of Mr. Subash Ghai have pre-defined directorial credibility for Mukta Arts in the history of Indian Cinema.

    Do watch the short films here:

  • NABARD to showcase films on rural India at Mumbai International Film Festival

    NABARD to showcase films on rural India at Mumbai International Film Festival

    MUMBAI: The National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) has been invited for the first time to participate in 14th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2016.

     

    MIFF in association with NABARD will showcase unique and innovative documentaries titled ‘Documenting Rural India’s Real Heroes’ at MIFF 2016.

     

    With the theme of ‘celebrating development documentaries,’ this year, MIFF 2016 has identified over 100 such development documentaries. In MIFF, developmental films on ‘Rural India’ made by design and communications students, will be showcased as a category. 

     

    NABARD has joined hands with MIFF 2016 to initiate this category of films, which will exhibit the facets of developments in Rural India.

     

    The files of Rural India will be captured and reflected by students of film making at institutes such as Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, Whistling Woods International, Mumbai and Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, Mumbai. These students have captured various developmental projects, which NABARD has undertaken in many villages in India those have changed the lives of rural populace and empowered them in many senses. Either through watershed development for better farming or a super market to produce and sell local agriculture produce, etc., these are the ‘life changing’ stories connecting Rural India’ with an ‘Urban India.’

     

    The films will be showcased on 30 January, 2016 between 9.30 am – 11.15 am at the Films Division in Mumbai.