World’s oldest functional studio in Pune gets a makeover

Delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, renovation work on the historic Prabhat Studios at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) got underway earlier this year and the section, where lights, costumes and property would be stored, wears a new look. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon)

The renovation will continue in a phased manner. The first and second floor visitor decks, which have wooden planks, are going to be repaired next. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon)

“The old wooden planks will be taken out and replaced with new planks so that the structure is safe,” said the director, adding that the repairs were minor and cost only a few lakh rupees. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon)

The lights, cameras and costumes from the iconic Studio Number One were moved to Studio Number Two before plastering and whitewashing work could commence. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon)

Walls and floors have now been repaired, without affecting the heritage structure. Lights were cleaned out and painted. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon)

Prabhat Studios is also the world's oldest functional studio, where student projects are still shot. It was the pandemic that brought such activity to a standstill and allowed the authorities to carry out repairs.