Whistling Woods launches new institute in Pune

Partners with DY Patil Group for setting up film, media and communication institute

Film, communication and media arts institute Whistling Woods International (WWI) today announced that they have partnered with the educational sector group, D Y Patil Group to set up the DY Patil - Whistling Woods Film & Media School.

This institute will be set up in Pune, Maharashtra and will commence operations from August 2013.

The collaborative film and media school will offer students from across the country integrated undergraduate courses in film-making, animation, media and communication, and a MBA in Media & Entertainment. The 3-year degree film-making course will feature a twinning model where the students will spend the final 18 months at the Whistling Woods Mumbai campus.

Subhash Ghai, founder and chairman of Whistling Woods International, said that the new institute would not just be a replica of the Mumbai campus of WWI, but will offer additional courses in the fields of mass communication and journalism for students. "Over the past year or so, we have been exploring opportunities to expand nationally, and in the institute being set up jointly in Pune, we have found the perfect partner in the DY Patil Group. Whistling Woods is here to stay and this is one step towards expansion with many more to come," he said.

For the first year, the institute is aiming for a student strength of 60 in each of the four courses. It would have faculty from both DY Patil Group and WWI. Ajeenkya D Y Patil, Chairman, DY Patil Group said that their vision is to help shape young lives by providing them cutting-edge professional education and training for rewarding and fulfilling careers in the high-growth sector of media and entertainment.

Pavan R Chawla, a media and entertainment professional with close to 25 years of experience in this field will be the Dean of the DYP-WWI Institute of Film, Media & Communication in Pune.

To have additional campus in Mumbai by January 2014, identifies alternate campus locations

Subhash Ghai led Whistling Woods International (WWI) will se up another campus in Andheri, Mumbai by January 2014. Speaking to Business Standard, Subhash Ghai, founder and chairman of Whistling Woods International said that apart from expansions in other regions, Mumbai would be a focus area for them.

Ghai further said that they have filed a petition with the Bombay High Court, regarding the land issue of WWI. Last year, the Supreme Court had upheld the judgment of the Bombay High Court that the allotment of land for Whistling Woods, was illegal.  "We want justice and have requested Maharashtra government to support us since we were partners for 10 years," he said.

He added that they have identified new locations for setting up new campuses in Mumbai in 2014. If the petition is rejected, the institute will have to vacate the present campus in 2014. However, Ghai said that they already have identified locations for alternate campus.