MUMBAI: With his Film & Media Arts institute Whistling Woods International (WWI) entering its tenth year, and having had the success of it being rated as one of the ten best film schools in the world, Founder & Chairman Subhash Ghai is delighted to announce a scholarship for meritorious yet indigent students in the name of Padmashri awardee Lata Mangeshkar ji.

The Lata Mangeshkar Scholarship will carry a 100 per cent fee waiver for a 2-year / 3-year programme at Whistling Woods International.

Subhash Ghai and Meghna Ghai-Puri, President of Whistling Woods, accompanied by a few students, met Lata ji at her residence yesterday. The purpose was to invite her to receive the ‘2016 Whistling Woods Maestro Award’ for her legendary contribution to Indian Cinema, at its ninth convocation on 18 July 2016. She gracefully accepted the invitation, and had all praise for the vision of Subhash Ghai and Mukta Arts in setting up of Whistling Woods International in 2001, as an institute of global standards in the education of the art, commerce and science of Cinema. As she said in her video message that she recorded for the institute, “I am honoured to receive such a prestigious award from a world-class institute like Whistling Woods International and I bless them for a great future.”

During this meeting, Lata ji also happily accepted a proposal from Meghna to institute an annual scholarship at WWI in her name. Lata ji said “I am deeply touched by this great gesture of Subhash ji, Meghna and their team. It’s an honour for me.”

Subhash Ghai added “It is our great honour to have Lata ji’s acceptance for our attempt to inspire the next generation of Indian filmmakers. This scholarship in the name of India’s pride and an institution for us all, Lata ji, will continue to benefit students for decades to come.”

Subhash Ghai also revealed that while WWI does provide scholarships to meritorious yet indigent students every year, this is the second special 100 per cent scholarship instituted in the name of a legend of Indian Cinema. Three years ago, Whistling Woods International had announced the Dilip Kumar Scholarship and over the past three years, three students have availed of this scholarship (2014 – Amit Hegde, 2015 – Rohit Valecha & 2016 – Amol Srivastava).

Whistling Woods International currently has over 700 students in several schools (Filmmaking, Acting, Animation, Music, Media & Communication and Fashion & Design) at its Filmcity campus. WWI has collaborated with TISS for its degree courses and is privileged to host a YouTube Space, a Sony Media Lab and RedEducation, within its campus.