Lucknow: The prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, has launched a five-day Basic Course in Film Appreciation in Lucknow from December 26 to December 30, 2025. The course is being conducted at Mahindra Educational Private Limited, Vijayant Khand, Gomti Nagar, marking a significant step towards strengthening FTII’s presence in Uttar Pradesh.
The programme is being organised with the active support of the Uttar Pradesh Sainik Kalyan and Rehabilitation Directorate. A large number of participants include family members of ex-servicemen. Director, UP Sainik Kalyan and Rehabilitation, Brigadier Atul Kumar, and Mrs. Reena Kumar were present at the inauguration, while the Indian Army was represented by Brigadier Puneet Srivastava. FTII Vice-Chancellor Dheeraj Singh also attended the opening ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, FTII Vice-Chancellor Dheeraj Singh said that expanding the presence of film and television education in Lucknow had been part of FTII’s long-term vision, and the current course marks the first step in that direction. He added that the enthusiastic response from participants has further encouraged the institute to introduce more courses in Uttar Pradesh in a phased manner.
Highlighting the need to promote regional cinema, Shri Singh said he envisions FTII-like institutions and facilities in every state to enable the growth of regional film industries and create greater learning and professional opportunities for cinema enthusiasts across the country.
The Film Appreciation Course is among FTII’s most popular and widely acclaimed academic offerings. It aims to develop a deeper understanding of cinema by enhancing the ability to view, interpret and critically analyse films. For Lucknow’s cinephiles, the course also evokes memories of the classic film appreciation sessions once led by the late Satish Bahadur, who played a pioneering role in nurturing serious film culture in the city.
Over the next five days, the course will be conducted by a team led by Prof. Indranil Bhattacharya, Head of FTII’s Film Studies Department, along with experts from the Direction and Short Courses Department, including Prof. Milind Damle. Participants will receive structured training covering the journey of cinema from script to screen.
FTII is India’s premier film education institute, with distinguished alumni such as Shatrughan Sinha, Jaya Bhaduri, Mithun Chakraborty, Danny Denzongpa, Rajkummar Rao, Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma, as well as renowned filmmakers like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Girish Kasaravalli, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Rajkumar Hirani. Notably, FTII alumnus Resul Pookutty won an Academy Award for sound mixing, underscoring the institute’s global impact in the field of cinema.
