The upcoming web series Ziddi Girls is set in a fictional college – Matilda House, which is referred to as MH in the series. The series was shot at DU’s Miranda House (also popularly referred to as MH) and is helmed by Miranda alumna Shonali Bose. The recently-released trailer of the show has come under fire from the college authorities, students’ union, and alumni for its depiction of the college and its students.

As the Ziddi Girls trailer starts, a voice over says, “Aaj MH mein padhai nahi, porn chalta hai.” The comments on the trailer called it a defamatory and inaccurate representation of the college. “Absolutely misrepresented... Reducing bright women of this country to such a stereotypical definition is absolutely unacceptable,” read one comment, while another said, “One of the country’s top most college students being reduced to porn watchers and men chasers. Wow! But Why?? Just to attract viewers by portraying the stereotypical viewpoint for women only colleges.”

The comments also spoke about how the trailer will impact the students: “What will our parents feel after watching this series? I can’t even tell them this is my college that’s shown here. It’s like belittling myself and my college,” “Pinjra tod was such a revolutionary feminist movement but while portraying it they perpetuated all the typical 'girls' college” stereotypes.”

While Principal Bijayalaxmi Nanda has already expressed her disapproval of the trailer, the college is now in the process of formulating policies for film shoots. Archana Kushwaha, Faculty Advisor to the Miranda House Student Union, says, “We are very disturbed after watching the trailer. She (Shonali) is a celebrated director and an alumna of the college, so we didn’t expect the college to be shown in this light. We have contacted them and written to them, but nothing concrete has come from their side. The union plans to release a statement on this matter soon.”

She adds that the union is also working on policies for film shoots to ensure they align with the college’s philosophy of inclusivity and women’s empowerment.

“While filmmakers share a concept note, they don’t provide dialogues, which is also part of their creative freedom. However, we have requested them to take down the trailer, show us the revised version, and remove any mentions of MH. Many objections have also come from our alumni. We are working on further remedial measures and strengthening all our processes to protect the dignity of women and our institution,” she says.

Sharmila Tagore recently interacted with teachers and principals of Delhi University during a book launch in the city. During the discussion, the veteran actress reminisced about her college days, spoke about a new habit she has inculcated – of writing letters to her granddaughter – and even shared some snippets from her love story with Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

As Sharmila Tagore attended a discussion at the invitation of Miranda House Principal Bijayalaxmi Nanda, she told her, “I came to Delhi in 1984 when amma, my mother-in-law, was ill. I had heard of Miranda House even before then, and I had heard about all those very bright women. And because the principal has so much to do with it, and you’re the principal now, when I received the invitation from you, I couldn’t say no. I just had to come and get this Mirandian experience.”

Not just letters, the veteran actress remembered how the lightning calls took forever. She said, “So, I didn’t have a telephone, and I used to go to Raj Singh’s house – a wonderful friend of Tiger and mine. I used to go to his house and wait for a call at 1 am. Sometimes, the phone would ring, and I would urgently pick it up, and someone at the other end would hear a female voice and quickly hang up. Poor Raj Singh ji’s reputation! The call used to go via London, so we often ended up talking to the operator. Those operators were very much a part of our love story. Maybe we should have invited them to our wedding,” she joked.

Referring to Bijayaalaxmi Nanda’s book, which is about letters, she said, “Letters are wonderful. I’ve started writing letters to Soha’s daughter Inaaya, and when Soha opened that letter, the joy on that little girl’s face and that expression made me so happy. It was the first letter she had received. So I continued writing letters to her. She writes back, and Soha takes a photograph of it and sends it to me, not the real letter. Those letters are kept somewhere for me to see someday. If I live that long and Inaaya is of a certain age, then we can compare those letters and relive those moments. When I was writing to Tiger – that way, I think technology is wonderful – it took a couple of weeks to get back.”

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With plenty of 'students' roaming around in bell bottoms, the front lawns of Miranda House in Delhi recently time-travelled to the '70s, as Meghna Gulzar shot for her upcoming film, Raazi. The film stars Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal and is set in the period leading up to the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The crew was in Delhi just for a day as they shot a college scene with Alia. The campus shoot was originally planned in Punjab, but had to be shifted after the Dera violence hit while the crew was filming in Patiala.

The balmy day notwithstanding, the junior artistes were dressed in sweaters for the scene, which was set in winter. Alia, too, was wearing a cardigan to match her lavender bell bottoms. She plays a Kashmiri girl in the film, who marries a Pakistani army officer and provides vital intelligence to India for the war.

The students went about their day, even as there were plenty of hangers-on trying to catch a glimpse of Alia or watch the shoot. Many got their chance when the crew moved from the front lawn to the hostel wing, and a bunch of students parked and a bunch of students parked themselves on an overhanging balcony right above the action. Several students were joking about 'men inside the Miranda hostel' referring to the film's crew, as they watched the shoot with interest.

Pratibha Jolly, the principal, said, “Miranda House is a cinematographer's delight. Whenever we give our premises to others, including production houses, we ensure that the synergy between the college and the visitors is least disturbed. When I met Meghna, there was general excitement among everyone in the college. And since her work is so good and illustrious, and Alia Bhatt is a young actor appreciated for her work, everyone was hoping to see them and take photos, but we stay away from that. Meghna is expected to come back to the college to have a discussion with students on theatre and cinema, and we would like to invite Alia on the same occasion to interact with our students.“

With inputs from Riya Sharma