Chapter-5 Marwah Studios has become synonymous with an impeccable reputation as an academy that trains connoisseurs of films, within a short time. With the pass-out of students every three months, it churns out a huge number of qualified students in different aspects of film making. The modus operandi is the same with every batch, with new modifications in the architecture and new recruitment of faculty and production units. Each batch springs a new surprise to the film visionary who takes immediate action to suit the requisite need-be it infrastructure or course structure. Sandeep Marwah has good reminiscences from the fifth batch, which became a game-changer, rather a turning point in his life. “I always felt that men are better at work. But I had a complete change of mindset after the timely intervention of three young students at the nick of time when I had a situation in hand. They were good friends of mine who offered their services to deck up the institute for the convocation the next day. I wanted to do a complete makeover of the event away from the routine, but my staff had already left. Some big dignitaries were expected and these girls segregated the files, covers, nameplates, and tents and adorned the institute for the next day’s event. I got flabbergasted with their sincerity, dedication, and meticulous work. This incident made me change my perception towards women and inspired me to start the `International Women’s Forum.’ He took challenges in his stride and handled adversities with a lot of care and patience. “I owe my gratitude to the International Film and Research Centre which gave me an insight into different attitudes, perceptions, and behavioral patterns. Students not only made me more sincere and active in my work but also handle different situations. Many have asked me as to how I handled a contractor, film director, student, and a rambunctious girl, at the same time.” It so happened that a student had come late to the class and the teacher did not permit her inside. “The student got very upset and approached me. She got hyper as she complained to me. I calmed her down and brought down her temperament. Situations like these honed my skills to face different strata of society with ease and perfection. These life situations instilled undulating courage and confidence in me, to start afresh an initiative to activate the mental faculties, a Books library.” Gradually, the library became very popular in the whole of NCR due to its good collection of books on films, cinema, TV, media, art, and culture. “I named the library after my late grandfather, Sewaram Marwah whom I held in high esteem even though I had not met him as he passed away in Peshawar. Once every three months, I allocate a small budget to buy books and upgrade the library. Today, our library will accede to not only our students but also others to exercise their brain and even borrow books for a few days.” The institute grew from strength to strength with the emergence of new batches and the library. “Within a year and a quarter, five batches were over. From the tenth batch onwards, we increased the number of seats. And over time, I decided to increase the size of the institution. My studio hosts my film institute at no cost pay or else it would have been a loss. I planned to have a huge infrastructure, ready even before the need arises for space to train the students. So, I submitted a plan which got sanctioned within four months. After the completion of the formalities, I applied for a bank loan which took three months to be approved. Construction costs were quite high at that time, but I somehow managed. We then invited Shobha Narayanan to become the Chief Guest for the inauguration of the 12th batch. And after this event, the badminton court got converted and construction began for the new building.“ Sandeep Marwah watched the classes with rapt attention for one year before he made a foray into the world of education, as a teacher. “Sadan Malik became nervous and could not fulfill the requirements from the second to sixth batch. I garnered enough strength to don the role of a teacher in 1991 and continued till 1995. I valued the course and then began to share my struggle with real-life experiences from my student days in the world of theatre, tv, cinema, and studio. These lessons were true life incidents taken from my life from 1975 to 1995 as it had unraveled in my life. Initially, I began to take two lectures and extended it to five lectures from the eighth batch after I acquired more confidence.” Students got carried away by his veracious narrative. “They became very interested in my class and did not miss a single line. They were not ready to leave the class which instilled a lot of confidence in me. I realized that I could spell magic and create wonders, which made me more passionate about my sessions. My idea to support education through my institute became a reality. My classes became an armory where I gave students the mantra to use the sword and win a battle.” Students worked overtime after they got to listen to his trials and tribulations. “They adored me to such an extent that they would inquire as to why I had not come to the class that day. I had to compensate for it and conduct the class after official business hours. Students would wait outside the building, driveway, garden, staircase, or below a tree to meet me. Later, it became a ritual to interact with them before I leave the premises at 6 p.m.” Earnest about his desire to impart education through his real-life incidents, he began to streamline them into a program. “I bifurcated them into classwork, workshop, homework, and assignments which gave a fresh look to the class. I began to teach for 20 consecutive days and got completely immersed in the teacher’s profession. The first orientation consisted of one outsider’s class and two of mine.” Orientation time got rectified from three to two and then three weeks, to counter Sadan Malik complexities. Official business hours were extended from 10 to 4 p.m. from the 12th batch onwards. “I noticed that students prolong their stay on the campus even after the classes are over and do not want to go home. Infectious energy pervades the whole atmosphere which is perfect for students to gain some positive vibes. The more a student sticks around the campus the more chances that he learns. The whole environment contributes to his or her knowledge.” “ Students were made to realize that this is an industry-based relation and contacts are very important. “If one student makes it to the film arena, then he can employ five others from his institute. So, we inculcate this habit to build a good rapport among themselves and create favorable situations besides the extension of the luncheon session. We provide them ample time for animated conversations to create a vision for their lives in the most lucrative ambience and spend valuable time in the library. Then reach home and think about their plans.” The twelfth batch became witness to the new infrastructure besides the inflow of films, books, screenings, and a club. This, besides Boney and Tutus studios, as part of AAFT. “It took one year of hard work to unravel the infrastructure and other facilities inside our campus. We began to screen films while our library provides more information to the Film and TV Institute.” It is more of a tradition in Marwah studio to add new books, cameras with every batch besides the up-gradation of the infrastructure. Students learn to shoot with cameras and identify as to how one shoot differs from another besides the different genres. “In this batch, we introduced a one-year course. With this new up-gradation, we offer PG Diploma in filmmaking after graduation and Diploma in filmmaking after Class XII. Two students joined this PG Diploma and I linked all the four courses. Three months each were devoted to acting, editing, cameras, and direction, which is one course after another within one year. Both the students became stars and got employed in channels. The fees for the one-year course used to cost Rs 40, 000 which has now been raised to Rs 2, 40, 000. This one-year program has 2000 hours program which is on par with the graduate program. Students get to learn three years portions within a year in an encapsulated form. The three months course is 500 hours, which is a one- year program in any other foreign institution.”
