Mumbai University 2011 -Film shot at Mumbai University after 18 years
or a change, the Asiatic Library or St Xavier’s college will not be used as a set for the University of Mumbai. Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Ferrari Ki Sawaari has managed to get permission to shoot a feature film within the heritage college campus after a claimed 18- year gap. According to the film’sspokesperson, the last movie shot on campus, which was constructed in the 1850s, was 1942: A Love Story.
Interestingly, Chopra, who has co-written and produced Ferrari Ki Sawaari, had also directed, co-written and produced the Anil Kapoor-Manish Koirala 1994 release. Rajesh Mapuskar, director of the Sharman Joshi-starrer, approached the University for the film, as the structure’s authentic backdrop was crucial to the scene. “We were shooting a choir sequence with Sharman and school children and explained the scene to the authorities. We also told them how we would go about filming it,” explains Mapuskar, adding,
“Only after thoroughly scrutinising it, they gave us the green light. It was a dream come true to shoot at the University after so many years.” Apparently, a majority of the film is being shot at real locations and Sharman, who plays the lead role, is travelling extensively for the same. “We wanted to keep our scene as authentic as possible,” adds Mapuskar, who was associate director in the past on Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots (2009) and Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006).
“It was important for us to capture the true essence of the heritage of the University for the big screen and Sharman was absolutely fantastic.” Though no one knows why the University is so strict with lending its premises for films shoots, the fact that the scene involved kids seems to have helped them. “All we know is that getting these permissions is a difficult task,” he says. The film that revolves around cricket is reportedly expected to release towards the end of the year.
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