Since its founding, Whistling Woods International (WWI) has contributed immensely to the media and entertainment (M&E) industry in India and globally. Through a generation of graduates with unparalleled skillsets and a globally enriched knowledge base, Asia’s premier Film, Communication, and Creative Arts institute has raised the bar and set new standards in various domains of the M&E industry.

WWI’s Alumni Engagement Month bore witness to this phenomenon with the industry’s most successful professionals gathering to celebrate their alma mater. WWI’s alumni hosted a series of masterclasses and workshops, which finally culminated in the 4th Annual Alumni Meet celebration. The evening of February 16, 2019 witnessed the alumni pay their tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives at the Pulwama attack.

Alumni members gathered at the institute

Among the renowned alumni leading invigorating masterclasses were director Shashank Khaitan, underwater videographer and drone pilot, Shamsher Singh, and Editor Utsab Bandopadhyay. Shashank Khaitan, director of the much appreciated films, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania, ensured the month began on an uplifting note with a highly interactive session with the current batch of students. He shared the secret to becoming a successful filmmaker. “Be yourself. Don’t try to be everything at once. Stick to what you’re good at and always ensure the emotion of the moment comes through”, were his advice to the students. However, his best advice was saved for the last, when faced with a question on his career path, “Don’t try to imitate someone else’s career. Your journey is your own, and makes you the person you are.”

Shamsher Singh, who has contributed to films such as Dhoom 3 and Masaan, led a hands-on workshop covering the technical workings of the industry. During the intensive workshop, students learned a number of highly practical skills, for as he summed up, “Simplicity is your best friend. It brings out your best work.” Simultaneously, Editor Utsab Bandopadhyay guided the students through a masterclass on post-production. Speaking on the importance of editing and its impact on the film, he shared, “While editing may seem simple, don’t be fooled. There’s a lot of money involved and strictly there is no room for errors.” As a concluding advice, Utsab Bandopadhyay urged the students to continuously polish their skills through constant practice. He further emphasized the latter to be crucial in bridging the gap between a good and a great editor!

While few alumni, namely, Joel Vilian and Namrata Wadhwani came on board to share their experiences and journey, Sanjay Kumar Patel and Parth Navle conducted interactive workshops with the students of editing and cinematography specializations, respectively.

While the interactive sessions of the alumni masterclasses and workshop will continue through the month, last evening witnessed alumni from various batches come together for a time of celebration! The campus was brimming with enthusiasm and fervour as WWI’s momentous impact on the Indian cinema was toasted to by alumni and faculties alike.

Meghna Ghai Puri, President, WWI concluded the Annual Alumni Meet 2019 by adding, “An institute’s success can be measured by the achievements of its students. As I stand here today, with our alumni who’ve gone on to forge highly successful careers in the industry, I can proudly say that Whistling Woods International has certainly made a mark in the industry. I wish our alumni more success in the years to come!”