Film Production
Mumbai’s new reel estate: BMC to allow temporary film sets under DCPR 2034
Mumbai: In a cinematic twist, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corp (BMC) has proposed a crucial amendment to its Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR) 2034, officially permitting the construction of temporary sets for films, TV serials, and advertisements. The move aims to turn Mumbai’s open plots into a regulated playground for the entertainment industry, ensuring compliance while boosting civic revenue.
The amendment, initiated under Section 37 (1) of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966, will introduce a fresh category under regulation 57, allowing temporary studios with prior approval from the BMC. Citizens have a month to share their views with the BMC’s chief engineer (development plan) or the deputy director of town planning.
BMC’s latest move comes just weeks after the city hosted the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (Waves), positioning Mumbai as a media powerhouse. It also aligns with the state government’s plan to establish a massive creative economy hub in Malad.
This decision traces back to a 2019 BMC circular that allowed temporary filming structures on open plots. But what started as a filmmaker’s delight turned into an environmental nightmare, with unauthorized setups mushrooming even in Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ). A subsequent inquiry in 2022 saw the BMC demolish 11 illegal studios in Madh, Marve, and Erangal.
The new amendment seeks to end this chaos by setting clear boundaries—temporary sets can now be constructed only with proper permissions, capped at six months at a time and a maximum of three years in total. “Permissions will also generate revenue for the BMC,” a civic official confirmed.
The revised rules will also help the civic body track how many production houses are using the designated plots for shoots, ensuring accountability.
Film Production
Priyanka Kaur Dhillon joins SVF Entertainment as lead for music distribution
A seasoned content dealmaker with 16 years in digital and satellite media joins the Bengali entertainment powerhouse as it pushes into the pan-India music market
Mumbai: Priyanka Kaur Dhillon has made her move. The content acquisitions and commercials veteran, most recently commercial manager at Sony Pictures Networks India, has joined SVF Entertainment as lead for music distribution, stepping into one of the more interesting briefs in regional entertainment right now.
SVF is no ordinary regional label. Over 30 years it has built a formidable legacy in Bengali cinema and music, driven by culturally resonant storytelling and a catalogue that consistently punches above its weight. Its recent success with Chiraiya underlines the point. But the Kolkata-based powerhouse now has its sights firmly set beyond Bengal, most visibly through Legacy, a rap reality series produced in collaboration with hip-hop label Kalamkaar that signals a deliberate push into the pan-India music ecosystem.
Dhillon brings precisely the kind of muscle SVF needs for that expansion. At Sony Pictures Networks India, she led film acquisition and commercials and handled music licensing across the entire satellite network. Before that, she spent nearly 15 years at Hungama, rising to assistant general manager and leading strategic content licensing for the platform’s digital entertainment business, with a particular focus on international markets. Her label relationships span the full roster: Sony Music, Universal Music, Warner Music, Believe International, Tunecore, The Orchard and a clutch of smaller aggregators. She has negotiated and closed deals with Hollywood studios, Bollywood production houses and regional content players alike, building pricing models and deal structures off data analysis rather than instinct.
Announcing the appointment, Dhillon said she was “thrilled to begin this journey with an iconic Bengali music label and content powerhouse,” adding that SVF’s “constant drive to push boundaries” was what drew her to the role.
SVF has spent three decades proving that regional does not mean limited. With a sharp commercial operator now steering its music distribution, its bid to go national just got a good deal more serious.
