Ranveer Singh's upcoming film Pralay has landed in controversy even as its shooting is underway in Mumbai. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has raised strong objections to the Maharashtra government's decision to allow the film's production team to shoot at the historic Azad Maidan. The association claims that the filming disrupted scheduled Under-14 and Under-16 inter-school cricket matches, forcing organisers to postpone several games.
The controversy has brought attention to the use of public sports grounds for commercial activities and the impact such decisions can have on young cricketers. MCA has reportedly written to the Deputy Director of Sports, questioning why permission was granted without consulting the association.
Why Is MCA Opposing Pralay's Shoot?
According to reports, the Maharashtra Sports Department granted the production team permission to use a portion of Azad Maidan for a six-hour shooting schedule. However, the decision did not go down well with MCA, as the ground is regularly used for cricket practice and tournaments.
The association maintains that Azad Maidan is an important sporting venue where aspiring cricketers train and participate in competitive matches. It believes that allowing commercial film shoots during scheduled sporting activities can affect players, schools and tournament organisers.
MCA Apex Council member Nadim Memon expressed his disappointment over the decision. He reportedly pointed out that large sets were erected and artificial grass was laid for the shooting of Pralay.
He questioned the decision to permit commercial filming at a cricket ground, arguing that the venue should primarily serve the needs of young players. Memon also raised concerns about the postponement of scheduled matches and asked who would take responsibility for the disruption.
₹40,000 Rent for Six Hours of Shooting
Another aspect of the controversy is the amount charged for using the ground. According to reports, the Maharashtra government permitted production house Light Rays to use approximately 5,000 square yards of government land at Azad Maidan for six hours.
The production house was charged ₹40,000 as rent. An additional ₹40,000 was required as a refundable security deposit.
The permission was reportedly signed by Sports Department Under Secretary Ashok Damayyawar on October 30 and forwarded by the Deputy Director of Sports and Youth Services on November 2.
The approval also included several conditions intended to protect the cricket ground. The production team was not allowed to bring vehicles onto cricket pitches, cook food or dig the ground. Activities that could damage the playing surface were prohibited.
The makers were also required to obtain the necessary clearances from the police, traffic department and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), along with a no-objection certificate from MCA.
MCA Raises Concerns About the Ground's Sporting Future
MCA has argued that the issue goes beyond one film shoot. The association believes that allowing commercial activities at a venue regularly used for grassroots cricket could set an undesirable precedent.
Nadim Memon also highlighted other activities that have affected the availability of Azad Maidan, including infrastructure-related work and temporary occupation of parts of the ground.
According to the association, such disruptions make it increasingly difficult to organise tournaments and provide uninterrupted playing opportunities to young cricketers.
The letter to the Sports Department reportedly seeks greater priority for sporting activities and questions the decision-making process behind the permission granted to the film production.
Hansal Mehta Defends the Production Team
Responding to the criticism, Pralay producer Hansal Mehta maintained that the production team had obtained all mandatory clearances from the competent authorities before beginning the shoot.
Mehta also expressed frustration over the bureaucratic challenges faced by filmmakers when seeking permission to shoot at real locations in Mumbai. He argued that administrative hurdles have made the city increasingly difficult for film productions.
The producer's response indicates that the makers believe they followed the required procedure. However, the disagreement between the production team and MCA centres on the decision to permit commercial filming at a ground where cricket matches were already scheduled.
What Is Ranveer Singh's Pralay About?
Pralay is an upcoming dystopian zombie action thriller directed by Jai Mehta and produced by Hansal Mehta. Ranveer Singh plays the lead role, while Malayalam actress Kalyani Priyadarshan is also part of the project. The film marks her Hindi cinema debut.
The project has attracted attention as Ranveer's next major film after the success of Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar: The Revenge.
While the Azad Maidan controversy has brought the film into the headlines, the central question remains whether public sporting facilities should be made available for commercial productions when scheduled matches and grassroots sporting activities are affected.
For now, MCA has formally raised its concerns with the Sports Department, while the production team maintains that it secured the necessary permissions.
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