Scottish film students work with Mausam unit

Students from Edinburgh Napier University's Screen Academy in Scotland are currently working with an Indian film crew for the shooting of Mausam, which stars actor Shahid Kapoor and is directed by his father, Pankaj Kapoor.

Students from Edinburgh Napier University's Screen Academy in Scotland are currently working with an Indian film crew for the shooting of Mausam, which stars actor Shahid Kapoor and is directed by his father, Pankaj Kapoor.

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The shooting of the movie, in which Pankaj Kapoor debuts as director, was delayed for over a month in May because of the ash clouds following a volcanic eruption in Iceland.

The Edinburgh City Chambers threw a reception for the team and the Napier students to celebrate the collaboration, according to the New Scotsman newspaper.

Councillor Steve Cardownie said on the occasion: "It's very fitting that Scotland's capital should be at the centre of new and better connections between our filmmakers and those from other nations."

The Scottish government recently launched its India plan to encourage links between India and Scotland. As part of an exchange programme, a group of Napier students have already visited Kolkata to work on a script they had written under the programme.

The exchange with the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) was designed to reflect the different working traditions of the two countries. During a first trip last November, two staff and four students worked with students at the SRFTI to make the short film Tuki, which was written by Napier student Gayle Baird and featured Bengali actors.

Four SRFTI students are now in Edinburgh to help work on Mausam, about an Indian boy who leaves his life - and girlfriend - in Scotland to fight in the Indian Air Force during the Kargil war with Pakistan. Filming is currently taking place at various locations across Edinburgh, including Portobello Cemetery and Colinton.