The sabre-rattling between the Information & Broadcasting (I & B) Ministry and the students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) spilled over to Mumbai on Friday after students defied a Films Division diktat by changing venues to screen their films.
Earlier, the Films Division (FD) had declined to host award-winning films by FTII students and had accordingly cancelled the ‘FD Zone weekly programme’ for the very first time in more than three years. Undeterred, the venue, originally the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai’s Prabhadevi area has been shifted to the nearby Bhupesh Gupta Bhavan.
Students and eminent filmmakers alike have alleged that the move to put pressure on the FD to cancel the screenings smacked of “arm-twisting” on the Ministry’s part to snuff out the indefinite strike that has paralysed the functioning of the FTII in Pune.
The strike, with its chief demand being the removal of nondescript TV actor-turned-BJP leader Gajendra Chauhan from the post of FTII chairman and the dissolution of the institute’s present Governing Council which has no less than four Sangh Parivar propagandists in it.
“The FD earlier defended its decision by stating that they were cancelling the event owing to ‘Janmashtami’, but when pointed out that the festival fell on the next day, they admitted they did not want to risk screening films by FTII students. This clearly shows the FD has been browbeaten by the Ministry which wants to retaliate against the students in any manner to break their strike,” said eminent documentary film-maker Anand Patwardhan, speaking to The Hindu .
“The short films to be screened include a mix of those made in the last five years and ones made in the past two months at the height of the strike and showcase the artistic and creative expression of students on campus. These are not ‘propaganda films’ about students’ demands or ones that lambaste authorities, but instead sensitively reflect the mood on campus,” said Surabhi Sharma, a co-host of the FD Zone.
Among films to be screened include Open Café (2011), Makara (2012) which deals with environmental concerns with a focus on the human-animal relationship and Chidiya Ud (2013), described as “a ballad through urban life” that uses no spoken words to communicate the lives of the masses.
These will be followed by a selection of ‘protest films’ made where students creatively question the opaque nature of appointments to the FTII society.
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.