The Social Communications Media Department of Sophia honours former student and late international casting director and producer, Seher Aly Latif. An entirely refurbished state-of-the-art studio named after her was unveiled today at the institution. In her short but immensely influential life as an international casting director and producer, Latif touched many lives with her brilliance and warmth. She opened many doors for nascent talent in India and abroad. Her sudden demise in June left her friends and peers grappling with disbelief and immense shock.

The faculty and close-knit alumni community of SCMSophia — Smt Manorama Devi Somani College as a part of Sophia Polytechnic mourned the loss of their alumnus. To memorialise Latif’s formative years as a student that shaped her professional journey, the college has named a completely refurbished studio after her on campus. It is a 2,000 sq ft space replete with a state-of-the-art large broadcast news studio with a production control room, audio visual projection facilities, a smartboard, two editing suites, an audio recording and mixing suite, and a breakout room for students.

Also included will be new editing tables, smart storage solutions, ergonomic furniture, and eco-friendly lighting solutions apart from a completely new wooden flooring. The renovation took over a month and is ready in time to welcome the 2021-2022 batch at the institution. “While I did not personally teach Seher at SCM, I have followed her successes with great pride. We are dismayed that a bright star from our constellation has been prematurely dimmed,” says Nirmita Gupta, head of SCMSophia.

Her close friend and co-founder of Mutant Films, Shivani Saran says, “The SCMSophia Seher Latif Memorial Studio is not just a gesture of gratitude from someone who always credited SCM for shaping her into the filmmaker the world knows her as, but is meant to be a tribute to Seher’s extraordinary life and generosity.” 

Latif’s production house was behind Netflix originals like Feels Like Ishq, Maska and Bhaag Beanie Bhaag. She was the casting director on international projects including The Lunchbox, Eat Pray Love, Zero Dark Thirty, among others.