Six-Hour Pralay Shoot at Azad Maidan Sparks MCA vs Producer Row

The Mumbai Cricket Association has hit out at the Maharashtra Sports Department after a six-hour shoot for Ranveer Singh’s upcoming film Pralay was cleared at Mumbai’s historic Azad Maidan. The association says the filming pushed scheduled interschool cricket matches off the ground, and has asked why it was not consulted before permission was granted.

What the permission allowed

According to a Mumbai Mirror report cited by The Times of India, production house Light Rays received access to 5,000 square yards of government land at ground level for a six-hour window. The terms were specific:

• Duration: Six hours at the venue
• Area: 5,000 square yards of government land
• Rent: Rs 40,000
• Deposit: Rs 40,000 refundable security
• Restrictions: No cooking, digging or vehicles on the pitches

The approval was signed by Sports Department Under Secretary Ashok Damayyawar on October 30 and forwarded on November 2. It was also, the report said, the first time a feature film had been allowed to shoot at the ground.

Why the cricket body is worried

MCA Apex Council member Nadim Memon said the ground already has limited space, with a large part handed over for Aqua Line Metro construction and contractors still to vacate. He added that Mumbai Police continue to occupy a portion, and now film shoots are in the mix. He described Azad Maidan as a training ground for future international cricketers and said large sets and artificial grass were laid over the playing area.

The MCA’s letter asks the department to give priority to scheduled sports fixtures, warning that allowing shoots on match days creates a precedent. The association said its under-14 and under-16 tournaments are planned well in advance and are central to developing cricket in Maharashtra.

Production and sports department respond

Hansal Mehta, who produces Pralay with Light Rays, rejected the objection. He told Mumbai Mirror the production team had obtained all mandatory clearances from the competent authorities. He was blunt about the wider mood in the industry, saying Mumbai has become a “no-go zone” for film shoots because of bureaucratic hurdles.

Deputy Director of Sports (Mumbai Division) Navnath Fartade said a Government Resolution permits the ground to be used for non-sporting activities for up to 30 days a year. On the space issues, he said meetings are ongoing with government officials to remove temporary offices set up by the police and Metro contractors.

What this means for Pralay

For fans, the dispute is a window into how difficult it has become to mount real-location shoots in Mumbai. Pralay, a dystopian zombie action thriller directed by Jai Mehta, is billed as Ranveer Singh’s first production under Maa Kasam Films, with Kalyani Priyadarshan making her Hindi film debut. The row could shape how closely future commercial bookings at public sports grounds are reviewed.

Source: The Times of India