FTII to allow state-level entry for rural Maharashtra students.
MoU signed with Maharashtra Cultural Department.
Training centres in Goregaon, Kolhapur, Prabhadevi, Karjat.
Pune, 23 July 2025: In a landmark move to bring film and media education closer to the grassroots, the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and the Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Department signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will now allow students from rural Maharashtra to gain state-level entry into FTII courses. Until now, admissions were held only at the national level.
The MoU was signed on Monday in Pune in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Cultural Affairs Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar, FTII Chairman and actor R. Madhavan, FTII Vice-Chancellor Dheeraj Singh, and Filmcity MD Swati Mhase Patil. Training centres under this initiative will be set up in Goregaon, Kolhapur, Prabhadevi, and Karjat.
Highlighting the potential of this collaboration, Fadnavis said that the agreement would open up career opportunities for youth in villages and promote lesser-known but culturally rich places in Maharashtra. He added that this partnership would help build a strong creative ecosystem by combining the strengths of FTII, known for producing top-quality artists, and Maharashtra's film city, a commercial hub for Indian cinema.
“Today, even a common man can become a content creator,” said Fadnavis. “Creativity now drives the economy. Many people possess talent but lack formal certification. With this MoU, they will now have access to both training and recognized certificates, increasing their professional opportunities.”
R. Madhavan spoke passionately about the rising talent from small towns and villages. He said,
“A woman is teaching how to make pickles through videos shot in a small hut and earning from it. This is historic talent. Western films have always showcased Superman, Batman, and Spiderman. But now, it’s time the world recognizes the greatness of Hanuman and Krishna. People from our towns and villages have unique stories to tell, and through them, we can achieve both ‘superpower’ and ‘soft power’.”
This agreement marks a shift in making the film and media sector more inclusive and accessible, offering a platform to aspiring creators from all corners of Maharashtra.