The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has objected to the Maharashtra government’s Sports Department allowing a film shoot at Azad Maidan, accusing it of treating one of Mumbai’s most important cricket grounds as a commercial venue rather than protecting its sporting facilities.

The six-hour shoot for Ranveer Singh-starrer Pralay has also disrupted the schedule of Under-14 and Under-16 interschool cricket matches, forcing the association to postpone games that had already been lined up at the ground.

This is reportedly the first time a film shoot has been permitted at Azad Maidan. The MCA has written to the deputy director of sports, questioning the decision and pointing out that the ground is an important venue for grassroots and competitive cricket.

MCA Apex Council member Nadim Memon told Mumbai Mirror that the Sports Department was increasingly allowing commercial activities at the ground while neglecting its sporting needs.

“A major portion of Azad Maidan was earlier handed over for the Aqua Line Metro construction, but contractors are yet to vacate the premises despite repeated reminders. The Mumbai Police have also continued to occupy the ground instead of moving back to their original location. Now, film shoots are being allowed as well,” Memon said.

He alleged that the government was willing to grant permissions for commercial activities but had not made adequate provisions for maintaining the city’s maidans.

“Azad Maidan’s sporting culture is being affected by the Sports Department. Instead of supporting sports, it is allowing commercial bookings at the ground,” he said.

Memon said the ground had also been used for religious functions, marathons, events organised by the air force and navy, political rallies and exhibitions. He argued that priority should be given to children and players from schools and colleges who depend on these grounds for training and competitions.

The MCA, which spends time and resources maintaining the ground and its cricket pitches, has also questioned why it was not consulted before the permission was granted. Memon said the deputy director of the Sports Department should have taken the association into confidence before allowing commercial activities.

The association said the shoot had forced it to postpone matches scheduled as part of its Under-14 and Under-16 inter-school tournaments.

“We are working to nurture young cricketers and organize several interstate tournaments. But because of the film shoot, we had to postpone matches. How can the Sports Department allow this?” Memon said.

Memon said the shoot had involved laying artificial grass and erecting a large set on the ground, disrupting ongoing tournaments.

“This is the first time a film shoot has taken place at Azad Maidan. Large sets were erected and artificial grass was laid for the shoot of Pralay. This is not a film-shooting venue but a cricket ground where players hone their skills to progress to the international level. Our ongoing tournaments were disrupted because of the shoot. Who will take responsibility for this loss?” he said.

“You cannot commercially exploit a cricket ground by allowing a commercial film shoot,” Memon said.

In its letter, the MCA pointed out that Azad Maidan hosts interschool tournaments, age-group competitions, coaching programmes, practice sessions and club matches involving hundreds of aspiring cricketers.

The association said the Under-14 and Under-16 matches had been scheduled well in advance and were an important part of its cricket development programme. Allowing a film shoot on a day when official matches were due to be played had inconvenienced players, schools, clubs and match officials.

The MCA has also warned that permitting commercial activities at a cricket ground could set a precedent, encouraging similar requests and affecting the uninterrupted conduct of sporting events.

The state government has granted Light Rays, the Mumbai-based production company behind Pralay, permission to use 5,000 square yards of government land at Azad Maidan. The six-hour shoot has been charged Rs 40,000 in rent, calculated at Rs 800 per 100 square yards. The production house has also been asked to pay a refundable security deposit of Rs 40,000.

The permission comes with several conditions, including a ban on vehicles entering the pitches, cooking, digging and any activity that could damage the playing surface. The production house must also obtain clearances from the police, traffic department and BMC, submit an undertaking on a Rs 100 stamp paper and secure a no-objection certificate from the MCA.

The permission was signed by Sports Department Under Secretary Ashok Damayyawar on October 30 and forwarded by the deputy director, Sports and Youth Services, Mumbai, on November 2.

Deputy Director of Sports, Mumbai Division, Navnath Fartade, said the government was authorised to grant permission for non-sporting activities at Azad Maidan for up to 30 days a year under a government resolution (GR).

“The government grants permission for such activities at Azad Maidan to applicants. According to a GR, the ground can be allotted for non-sporting events for 30 days in a year,” Fartade said.

Asked about the encroachments on the cricket ground, Fartade said the department was holding discussions with government officials to remove the temporary offices of Mumbai Metro contractors and the Mumbai Police from the premises.

“We have been conducting meetings with government officials to remove the temporary offices of Mumbai Metro contractors and the Mumbai Police from Azad Maidan,” he said.

Hansal Mehta, producer of Pralay, said he had secured all the necessary permissions from the competent authorities before conducting the shoot at Azad Maidan.

“But I would like to underscore that Mumbai has been rendered a no-go zone for film shoots because of bureaucratic hurdles. And people like you (the media) fuel the fire,” Mehta said.

In its appeal, the MCA urged the department to give priority to scheduled cricket matches and the development of young players, maintaining that Azad Maidan should remain a dedicated sporting venue.