MUMBAI: The Madurai Kamaraj University is in talks with Kamal Hassan to rope him as a key guide for its ambitious film institute situated in its campus. A state-of-the-art film institute is being set up on the campus on the lines of the ones in Pune (FTII) and Chennai (South India Film Institute).

Soon after the Vice-Chancellor Kalyani Mathivanan made an announcement about the project after assuming office in April, preliminary discussions have been going on with popular film personalities in order to get them on the Advisory Board of the institute. In the process, the University authorities also approached Hassan and explained him the project details. His participation was sought thereafter.

A detailed project report is now being prepared by a reputed auditor of Chennai which will be taken to the Chief Minister‘s attention seeking funding support. Apart from Hassan, a few more personalities of the film industry will also be roped in to have their participation on the Advisory Board.

The film institute will have a five-year integrated course in which a range of specialities in film making such as editing, sound, cinematography, music among others will be offered. The syllabus for this course would be prepared by the University taking expert inputs from film personalities.

The University is trying hard to get some funding assistance from the University Grants Commission under its innovative scheme, according to Professor Mathivanan.