Adoor Gopalakrishnan, renowned film-maker and former chairperson of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has expressed regret over professionals in the film industry not playing a proactive role in the protest launched by FTII students — which is entering the 100th day — over the appointment of Gajendra Chouhan as the institute’s head.
He told presspersons on Saturday that they should have played an active role as the film industry, both commercial and art, had a stake in it. “It is FTII that changed the complexion of the film industry with its expertise over the years and influenced the film-making process,” he said.
FTII was directly under the control of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in the 70s. The institute got autonomous status for better functioning and to facilitate people of eminence to become members of the FTII society.
Earlier, speaking at ‘A day with Adoor and Kasaravalli’, a programme organised by the International Arts and Cultural Foundation, he said cinema was a work of art and there was no clear formula for its commercial success. Hollywood, which was claiming to know the formula for commercial success, had now begun to understand that it has failed to read the pulse of the people, he said.
“Girish Kasaravalli and I are making movies on contemporary issues. A film should make people understand life better and leave a lasting impression,” he said. On Elippathayam, his national award-winning film, which was screened on the occasion, Mr. Adoor said, “I thought Elippathayam , with its critique on feudal system, would be understood only in Kerala.
Muralidhara Khajane
It looks like the government does not care about the ongoing agitation by FTII students. It is a disturbing development. I think the government has not yet understood that it committed a grave mistake
Adoor Gopalakrishnan,Film-maker
