Ending days of speculation, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has appointed former head of the National Film Archives of India, Prashant Pathrabe, as the new director of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
Mr. Pathrabe, who replaces D.J. Narain, takes over at a critical juncture when the institute is in turmoil, racked by an indefinite strike of students agitating against the controversial appointment of TV actor-turned-politician Gajendra Chauhan as the new chairman of the FTII Governing Council.
An alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad, Mr. Pathrabe was formerly Director of the Press Information Bureau in Pune before taking over as Director, NFAI in February 2011. He joined the Indian Information Service in 1993.
Mr. Narain, an IIT-Kharagpur alumnus, belongs to the 1990 batch of the Indian Information Service and is also a member of the rock-pop band ‘The Aryans’. Mr. Narain had taken over as FTII Director in July 2011 and was given a year’s extension in July 2014.
According to sources, the Ministry was unhappy with Mr. Narain’s handling of the students’ strike and allegedly blamed him for letting matters deteriorate further.
On Wednesday, Mr. Narain was compelled to issue a strongly-worded warning to the agitating students to call off their strike soon or face serious administrative action which could entail rustication.
The students, however, have decided to go on with their strike in defiance of the administrative notice, demanding immediate revocation of Mr. Chauhan’s appointment and the dissolution of the governing council on grounds that they were populated with mediocrities and political party hacks lacking in vision and artistic conception.
In yet another turn to the strike drama, FTII registrar U.C. Bodake had written to the I&B Ministry complaining about the students’ “increasing indiscipline” on the campus in recent years that have brought disrepute to the institute.
Meanwhile, a third group, constituted by a group of technical staffers and an ex-FTII employee, has established a ‘Save FTII’ forum. It expressed fears of the institute’s steadily plummeting reputation in the past one month, called upon the students to call off their strike while advocating a solution through dialogue.
PTI adds:
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) new Director Prashant Pathrabe on Friday said he would speak to all concerned to resolve the current impasse following the students’ strike against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as chairman and was hopeful of a positive outcome.
Asked about the unrest on the campus, Mr. Pathrabe said: “I will first study the situation and speak to all concerned. The situation is not a happy one but we are hopeful of a positive outcome.”
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.