Whistling Woods International

Overview

Whistling Woods International (WWI) is a private film, communication, and media arts institute founded in 2006 by veteran Bollywood filmmaker Subhash Ghai. The 5.5-acre campus sits inside Mumbai's Film City complex in Goregaon, adjacent to the studios and backlots where Hindi-language films and television shows are produced daily. Over 1,000 students are enrolled on campus, and more than 4,300 alumni work across the global media and entertainment industry.

WWI operates its degree programs in association with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). The institute is a full member of CILECT (Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinema et de Television), the international association of film and television schools, and hosted the CILECT World Congress in 2018, the first time the congress was held in India. WWI has 30+ technology partnerships with companies including Sony, Apple, RED, Adobe, HP, Intel, and Foxconn.

Admission requires passing the WWI Entrance Exam (MECAT), which includes a written test, creative aptitude test, statement of purpose, and personal interview. Acting programs require an audition. The 2026 intake application cycle opens in December 2025.

Students who want to train within Mumbai's commercial film industry ecosystem, with access to industry-standard equipment and direct exposure to Bollywood production workflows, should consider WWI. Students seeking a Western-style film education or a university-based liberal arts approach should look at programs in the US, UK, or Europe instead.

Programs Offered

WWI offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma programs across film, media, design, and performing arts. All programs are full-time and on-campus. Degree programs are offered in association with TISS.

Undergraduate Programs:

• BFA in Filmmaking (Dual Elective) - 3 years. Covers directing, cinematography, editing, sound design, and producing. Students choose two specializations. Total fees: INR 28,50,000 (approximately $33,000 USD).
• BFA in Acting - 3 years. Screen performance training. Total fees: INR 18,00,000 (approximately $21,000 USD).
• BFA in Music Production and Composition - 3 years. Total fees: INR 19,00,000 (approximately $22,000 USD).
• BBA in Media and Communication - 3 years. Entertainment business management. Total fees: INR 13,00,000 (approximately $15,000 USD).
• BDes in Animation - 4 years. Total fees: INR 21,50,000 (approximately $25,000 USD).
• BDes in Game Design - 4 years. Total fees: INR 21,50,000 (approximately $25,000 USD).
• BDes in Visual Communication Design - 4 years. Total fees: INR 20,50,000 (approximately $24,000 USD).
• BDes in Fashion Design - 4 years. Total fees: INR 20,50,000 (approximately $24,000 USD).

Postgraduate Programs:

• MFA in Filmmaking with specialization - 2 years. Specializations: Cinematography (INR 27,50,000), Direction (INR 27,50,000), Editing (INR 26,00,000), Producing (INR 26,50,000), Production Design (INR 26,50,000), Sound Recording and Design (INR 22,00,000), VFX and Virtual Production (INR 22,50,000).
• MFA in Screenwriting - 2 years. Total fees: INR 11,00,000 (approximately $13,000 USD).
• MBA in Media and Entertainment - 2 years. Total fees: INR 13,00,000 (approximately $15,000 USD).

Diploma Programs:

• Diploma in Screenwriting - 1 year. Total fees: INR 5,50,000 (approximately $6,500 USD).

All fees listed are total program fees including a INR 50,000 security deposit. An admission fee of INR 2,00,000 is required at enrollment and is non-refundable but transferable to the next batch (up to 2 times). Fees can be paid semester-wise: 50% at the start of each semester and 50% mid-semester. Detailed fee breakdowns are available in the 2026 Fee Policy PDF.

Facilities and Equipment

The WWI campus within Film City includes purpose-built production facilities designed to replicate professional environments:

• 250-seat theatre with surround sound and 4K DCP projector
• 40'x60' Television Studio - 30' height, air-conditioned, fully automated lighting grid
• 40'x60' Film Studio - 30' height, air-conditioned with catwalks
• 33'x64' Multi-purpose studio - air-conditioned with catwalks
• RED Digital Cinema 8K cameras - RED is an official education partner, making WWI a RED Education Campus
• Sony FX9, FS7, FS5 cameras - WWI is the 3rd Global Sony Media Technology Centre
• Sony and Canon DSLR cameras (A7Sii, A7Siii, R5C, MkIII, MkIV and others)
• Dolby Digital Film Surround Mix Studio
• Music Recording Studio
• 6 DAW Suites and 1 ADR Suite
• 3 specialized Edit Labs and 12 Edit Suites (4K ready)
• 4 multipurpose computer labs including the Foxconn Media Lab
• Animation, Gaming, Comics, and VFX Labs - 1 workstation per student running Maya, Houdini, ToonBoom, Nuke, Z-Brush, Adobe After Effects, PF Track, Mocha Pro, and others
• Fashion facilities - Apparel Construction Room with Brother and FDM sewing machines, Pattern Making and Cutting Room, Grooming and Draping Room
• Music Production rooms - 3 rooms with digital pianos, MIDI controllers, and music workstations

WWI does not offer residential accommodation on campus. The institute assists admitted students in finding housing in nearby areas including Goregaon (East), Vile Parle (W), Andheri (E), Malad (W), and Chembur. Recommended housing options include Jankidevi Bilasrai Bubna Boys Hostel, Draupadi Devi Sanwarmal Women's Hostel, and Your Space.

Standout Faculty

WWI's faculty are working Indian filmmakers and industry veterans, with the school's Mumbai location within Film City providing direct access to Bollywood's production ecosystem.

• Subhash Ghai - Founder & Chairman, Chief Mentor, Actors' Studio. Globally renowned filmmaker having directed 18 films over four decades with 14 blockbusters. Credits include Kalicharan (1976), Vishwanath (1978), Karz (1980), Hero (1983), Meri Jung (1985), Ram Lakhan (1989), Saudagar (1991), Khalnayak (1993), and Pardes (1997), and producer of Iqbal (2005). Known as the "Showman" of Hindi cinema. Teaches acting and filmmaking mentorship.
• Ravi Gupta - Dean. Former Managing Director of NFDC (National Film Development Corporation), worked with Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal, Mira Nair, Aparna Sen, and Ketan Mehta. Produced/distributed over 150 films including Salaam Bombay, Gandhi, Maya Memsahib, Rudali, and Ghare Bhaire. Former CEO of B4U Television Network and Mukta Arts. Teaches producing.
• Anjum Rajabali - Head of Department, Screenwriting. Renowned screenwriter and Honorary Head of Screenplay Writing at FTII. Credits include Drohkaal (1994, associate), Ghulam (1998), Pukar (2000), The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002), Raajneeti (2010), Aarakshan (2011), Chakravyuh (2012), Satyagraha (2013), and Toofan (2021). Script consultant for Mulk and Thappad. Teaches screenwriting.
• Ashwini Kaul - Head of Department, Cinematography (Member of ISC - Indian Society of Cinematographers). FTII graduate. Credits include cinematographer for Kazhakam (1995), Aparahnam (1991), and Vembanad (1990), and second camera assistant on Gandhi (1982). Teaches cinematography.
• Prashant Naik - Head of Department, Editing. National Award-winning film editor. Won National Award for Best Editing for Harvest of Hunger (2005). Edited feature films including I Am Kalam, Das Capital: A City of Slaves, and Zindagi On the Rocks. Teaches editing.
• Arvind Pandey - Head of Department, Actors Studio. NSD alumnus, studied at Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute (USA). Acting experience spanning two decades in films, television, and theatre. Teaches method acting.
• Abhijit Mazumdar - Head of Department, Direction. FTII direction alumnus. Directed award-winning short films and telefilms; one film won National Award for Sound Design. Films showcased at Glasgow Short Film Festival, Karlovy Vary Short Film Festival, and Torino Film Festival. Feature films: Yeti (2014) and Body (2023, premiered at International Film Festival of Kerala). Teaches direction.

Notable Alumni

WWI alumni have worked on commercially successful and critically acclaimed Indian films and series. According to the institute, graduates have contributed to productions including Gully Boy, Raazi, Made in Heaven, 83, Masaan, and the Academy Award-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers. Alumni are employed at organizations including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Dharma Productions, Excel Entertainment, Yash Raj Films, MTV, DNEG, Zee Entertainment, Star India, BBC Worldwide, Condé Nast India, and others.

Notable named alumni include:

• Arati Kadav - Director of Cargo (2019), a Hindi science fiction film released on Netflix. One of India's most acclaimed indie sci-fi films.

• Ishaan Randeria - Actor and performer in Gujjubhai The Great (2015), one of the highest-grossing films in Gujarati cinema history.

The school reports that 4,300+ alumni are working across film, OTT series production, animation, game development, advertising, design, and digital media globally.

What Students Should Know

WWI teaches in English and Hindi, making it accessible to students from across India's multilingual landscape and to international students. The curriculum is oriented toward the commercial Indian film industry, which operates with production norms, narrative structures (including song-and-dance sequences, interval breaks, and multi-genre blending), and audience expectations that differ significantly from Hollywood or European art cinema.

The school's location in Film City is its primary advantage. Students observe professional productions in progress, build industry contacts through guest lectures and masterclasses, and develop an understanding of the commercial filmmaking ecosystem. WWI's faculty includes 350+ industry experts as full-time and guest instructors. The institute regularly hosts masterclasses with leading Bollywood directors, producers, actors, and technicians.

Mumbai's cost of living is among the highest in India. Students should budget for housing, transportation, and daily expenses in addition to tuition. The school does not provide on-campus housing but assists with off-campus accommodation. WWI has provided over $1 million in scholarships and fee waivers in the past 18 years, including merit-based scholarships for high-performing students (up to 50% off semester 4-6 fees) and scholarships for students with special needs.

The refund policy allows a full refund minus INR 75,000 if withdrawal occurs more than 15 days before the course starts, 50% refund within 15 days of the start date, and no refund after 15 days of course commencement.

WWI graduates enter India's enormous media and entertainment market. India's film and television industries employ hundreds of thousands of people across multiple language industries (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, Kannada, and others). Trained professionals are in demand across production, post-production, VFX, animation, and entertainment business roles.

Student Film Examples

WWI student films are produced through the school's diploma program and many are available on Hotstar and other streaming platforms. The most publicly notable WWI student-produced work on YouTube is Dekh Le (2013), a viral public service announcement about men ogling women in India, produced by WWI students and released on the first anniversary of the Delhi gang rape. It garnered 1 million hits in its first week and over 6 million views total, receiving extensive international media coverage.

See Also

For understanding the Indian entertainment market, see International Film Markets. To plan your production budget, use the Production Budget Calculator. For comparing film schools across different countries, see Choosing a Film School. To explore filmmaking terminology that bridges international production contexts, visit the Filmmaker Glossary.