Pune: In an indication of the growing popularity of the Indian cinema across the world, a group of German students are visiting the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, for the first time for a better appreciation of the Indian cinema and to understand the working of the Indian film industry.
Led by Prof Thorsten Schütte, Dean of Film Studies of the Filmakademie Baden Württemberg (FABW), Germany, and its 12 students arrived at FTII on Monday on a 20-day visit for a customised ‘Introduction to Indian Cinema’ course. Besides a specially designed syllabus, their programme will take them to Mumbai for meetings with filmmakers.
Varun Bhardwaj, Registrar, FTII, inaugurated the course in the presence of Amit Tyagi, Dean (Films)-cum-Course Director, GB Singh, Associate Professor (TV Technical Management), and several faculty members. Besides presenting an overview of the Indian cinema and its evolution, the course will also cover the attributes of India’s regional films, including Marathi cinema, the study of song picturisation, works of Satyajit Ray and Guru Dutt.
The course will also includeand screenings of all-time hit films such as ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ and ‘Sholay’.
“The visit of German students is the first in a series of exchanges that follows the agreement signed this February by FTII with FABW. With films made in over 40 languages in the country, the cultural diversity of India’s cinema and its sheer volume of production makes it unique in the world. The FABW requested for this course and the FTII is now ready to present it,” said Varun Bhardwaj.
