One evening in 1989, when the country was in the grip of the television series Mahabharat — entire streets would empty out during its telecast on Sunday mornings — I found myself in a seedy theatre in Kanpur, watching a movie not for the story but for the salacious scenes its title promised: Khuli Khidki , or Open Window.
I had just turned an adult, and even though I derived childlike pleasure in watching action scenes from Mahabharat , I was discovering the pleasures of doing things that obedient sons aren’t supposed to, which included trips with college mates to seedy theatres showing films that would never be approved by the censor board. Such theatres no longer exist because now there is Internet.
Khuli Khidki , however, had the approval of the censors (it was rated ‘A’) and therefore turned out to be a damp squib — a waste of money. It was a typical C-grade Hindi film, the kind in which the villain’s evil ways arouses laughter instead of anger. What made the villainy in the film doubly funny was that the bad guy happened to be Gajendra Chauhan, who, at the time, Sunday after Sunday, was playing the good guy — the ultimate good guy, Yudhishtir — in Mahabharat .
That was the first and the last time I saw a film in which Gajendra Chauhan had a role to play, and once Mahabharat wrapped up some months later, one totally forgot about him.
In fact, and quite strangely, hardly any of the primary characters in Mahabharat — or for that matter Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan , which preceded Mahabharat on Sunday mornings — remained in circulation once the final episode was telecast. Other than Mukesh Khanna (Bhishma), who went on to become even more famous as Shaktiman, and Rupa Ganguly (Draupadi), who built a successful career for herself in Bengali cinema, almost everybody else faded away.
And now, a quarter century later, Gajendra Chauhan has staged a dramatic return, following his installation as the chairman of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India, or FTII. He clings to the chair, in spite of protests by students — their strike has entered the second month — and increasing number of film personalities speaking against his appointment.
On the face of it, it appears that the students are protesting because they see Chauhan’s appointment as a move by the BJP government to saffronise the institution that has produced some of the finest actors and directors that India has known. But is their anger really against saffronisation?
Ideology is one thing, stature another. Stars like Shatrughan Sinha and Vinod Khanna have long been associated with the BJP, yet no one sees them as saffron elements — they are too tall as actors to be dwarfed by a particular ideology. They add colour to the party, the party doesn’t colour their personality.
One can say with certainty that had one of them been made the FTII chairman, the students would not have seen it as a move to saffronise the institution. Vinod Khanna, in fact, had served as the chairman while he was a BJP MP and no one raised eyebrows — that’s because he knows the craft of cinema.
On the other hand, Gajendra Chauhan, if you were to discount his role in Mahabharat , is a small-time actor, who has done parts in films such as Lallu Ram , Jungle Love , Vasna , Jungle Ka Beta , Jai Maa Vaishno Devi — many of them made with the sole purpose of titillating the audience.
How can a man with a CV such as his — forget his connection with the BJP — lead India’s premier film institute? It’s like a spot boy being asked to direct a film. The spot boy, if he has been a sharp observer, may still pull it off and even do a good job, but Chauhan’s singularly dull and uneventful career is there for all to see — on YouTube.
Last night I watched Khuli Khidki again, after 26 years. This time I laughed more than I had laughed in the theatre.
FTII Limbo
Gajendra Chauhan, an actor-turned-politician, was appointed as the chairman of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) on June 9, 2015. His appointment triggered an >indefinite strike by students of the institute on June 12.
Who is Chauhan?
Mr. Chauhan is best known as 'Yudhisthira' in the Mahabharata TV series aired on television in 1988-90. He has been associated with BJP for over two decades but formally joined the party in 2004.
Why protest?
Students of FTII have questioned Mr. Chauhan's body of work and "creative credentials." The students doubt if Mr. Chauhan can fit in the shoes of predecessors like R.K. Laxman, Syam Benegal, Girish Karnad and U.R. Ananthamurthy.
Political vendetta?
Students claim that Mr. Chauhan's appointment is an attempt of the ruling party to foist its right-wing agenda upon the Institute.
Supporters
Besides, prominent film personalities, All India Students' Association (AISA), the Kolkata-based Satyajit Ray Film Institute, and students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) are all coming out strongly in support of the striking students.
If they don't want you, they don't want you. Pushing for the chairmanship is getting you no where. Let self pride play a role and retire
- >Rishi Kapoor
FTII needs to be in safe hands. Students need somebody who they can trust and look up to. It's their future which is at stake here.
>- Rajkumar Rao
This is something we should be talking about and by this we will clearly know that it is a mistake and that he has no credentials...If I would have been in place of Chauhan and I would have seen that my fraternity does not want me, I would have withdrawn.
>- Amol Palekar
Don't think what the students are asking for is illogical, don't think they are asking for the moon. They are just asking for a fair chance, a fair opportunity, correct faculty, correct syllabus.
- Ranbir Kapoor
I have neither been approached by students nor by authorities. But being an alumnus of this institute to which I owe my film career, I am more than willing to step in and sort out matters if given the chance to do so.
- >Shatrughan Sinha
Prominent chairmen
Anwar Jamal Kidwai (1974 - 1977)
First chairman, founder of Mass Communication Research centre at Jamia Millia Islamia.
>R.K. Laxman (1977- 1980)
Legendary cartoonist, Padma Bhushan, Vibhushan. Known for creating the character "Common Man".
> Shyam Benegal (1981 - 1983) (1989 - 1992)
Known for pioneering parallel cinema. Recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award among others.
> Mahesh Bhatt (1995- 1998)
Award-winning director, screenwriter, producer in mainstream Hindi cinema.
>U.R. Ananthamurthy (2005-2008) (2008-2011)
Eminent author, Padma Bhushan. Pioneered Navya movement in Kannada language.