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Three FTII Students Begin Indefinite Hunger Strike

By Countercurrents.org

10 September, 2015
Countercurrents.org

Three students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) today began an indefinite Hunger Strike, demanding that the ensuing crisis be resolved. The students are on a 91 day long strike against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan, a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member and TV actor, as chairman of FTII, India's premier film institute, in an effort to saffronize it by Hindutva forces.

In the meantime eminent film makers and award winners have written to the President of India to intervene and resolve the crisis.

Here is the memorandum:

The Honourable President of India Rashtrapati Bhawan

Honourable Sir,

We write to you at a time when the film-making community – and the public at large – are deeply perturbed by the ongoing mishandling of affairs at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The undersigned are all recipients of the National Film Awards over the years, bestowed upon us by the office of the President, in recognition of our films and our cinema-related work.

We are writing to collectively bring to your attention the following:

The FTII is a premier institute, now in its 55th year. Its alumni include some of the best-known names of the Indian film industry, who have brought national and international recognition to Indian cinema.

In June 2015, the Ministry made a series of appointments to the FTII Society. We are dismayed to find among the appointees several people who did not satisfy the minimum criteria of either a ‘significant contribution’ to, or ‘excellence’ in, cinema.

We have been particularly disturbed to note that the Ministry had arbitrarily chosen Shri Gajendra Chouhan as the Chairman of the Governing Council, a position earlier held by eminent film-makers like Shri Mrinal Sen, Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy, Shri Shyam Benegal, Shri Girish Karnad and Shri Adoor Gopalakrishnan, among a host of other eminent appointees. This appears to have been done in haste, sans due diligence or widespread consultations.

Even more disturbing is the inclusion of at least four political appointees, with little or no cinematic achievements of note. These include an appointee against whom a Pune Court has passed strictures, doubting her knowledge of cinema, as well as people with no other significant qualification except their affiliation with the political party in power.

Even as many of us have registered our protest through the media, the students of FTII have been on an indefinite strike protesting these appointments and what they rightly see as an attempt to interfere with the autonomy of the institute. In the 85 days since they commenced their strike, we have been anguished to observe the myriad ways in which the Ministry has mishandled the complex set of issues brought up by the students, the alumni, the film-making community and the wider civil society.

We have been especially disturbed at the victimisation of the students, some of whom were subjected to midnight arrests on what prima facie seem to be grossly exaggerated charges including “torture”.

We believe that despite the several discussions held between the Ministry and the students, as well as the various attempts at mediation, especially by eminent alumni, no solution seems to be in sight. We therefore write to you to express our deep anguish and to urge you to intervene directly. We hope your intervention would not just facilitate an end to the current crisis, but also help address the long-term and festering problems faced by the FTII.

May we request you to:

>> Declare FTII as a Centre of Excellence and an autonomous institution.

>> Assume charge as the Chancellor.

>> Direct the Government of India to delink FTII from the Ministry of I & B and to urgently complete all the necessary formalities to grant it autonomy

>> Appoint an independent panel of eminent filmmakers to probe and resolve all the issues arising out of the current crisis as well as to facilitate the immediate resumption of classes and the ongoing diploma film projects.

>> Authorise this panel to formally consider all prior reports submitted by various committees – right from the G D Khosla committee (1971) to the P K Nair committee (2011) – and to make final recommendations concerning FTII to your office.

>> We hope you will accord due weightage to our collective voices and share in our desire to preserve an invaluable institution like the FTII.

We are writing to you as a last resort, before considering any further concerted steps or protests.

The signatories are listed in alphabetical order in two sets, first the alumni from FTII followed by members of the film fraternity.

Abhaya Simha, Director Gubbachigalu, 2008

Abhik Mukhopadhyay, Cinematographer Patalghar, 2002; Bhalo Theko, 2003; Antaheen, 2008

Abhimanyu Dange, Cinematographer Kaatal, 2012

Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Director Padma Shri, 1984; Dada Saheb Phalke Award, 2004; Padma Vibhushan, 2006; 17 National Awards

Ajithkumar B., Editor Of Confucious, Toy Guns and S- Spots, 1999; Atman, 2002; Naalu Pennungal, 2007

Ajit Singh Rathore, Sound Designer Kramasha, 2009

Amit Dutta, Director Ksha Tra Gya, 2004

Amitabh Chakraborty, Editor, Director Bishar Blues, 2006; Kaal Abhirati, 1990

Amlan Datta, Director, Producer Chronicle of an amnesiac, 2007; .in for motion, 2009; BOM, 2011

Andrea Inneta, Director Allah is Great, 2012

Anil Mehta, Cinematographer Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, 1999

Anish John, Sound Designer Asha Jaoar Majhe, 2014

Anirban Dasgupta, Sound designer Shabdo 2012; Nirbashito, 2014

Anjali Shukla, Cinematographer Kutty Srank,2010

Anmol Bhave, Sound Designer Closer,2005; Gandha, 2008

Anup Mukhopadhyay, Audiographer Uttara, 1999

Arghyakamal Mitra, Editor Abohoman, 2009

Arunaraje Patil, Producer, Director Mallika Sarabhai, 2000; A New Paradigm, 2002; Behind The Glass Wall, 2014

Arun Khopkar, Director, Producer, Film Scholar Tobacco Habits and Oral Cancer, 1976; Figures of Thought, 1990 Sanchari, 1994; Colours of Absence, 1995; Rasikapriya, 2000; Narayan Gangaram Surve, 2004

Arunima Sharma, Director Shyam, Raat, Seher, 2010

Ashok Viswanathan, Director Sunya Theke Suru, 1992; Kichhu Sanglap Kichhu Prolap, 1996

Avinash Arun, Director, cinematographer Killa, 2014

Batul Mukhtiar, Director Kaphal, 2014

Bina Paul, Editor Mitr, 2002; Unni, 2003

Bishwadeep Chatterjee, Sound Designer Madras Café, 2014

Chandita Mukherjee, Director Totanama, 1992; Another Way of Learning, 1995

Charushree Roy, Director, Editor Chasing the rainbow, 2014

Chinmoy Nath, Audiographer The Vehicle with the Soul of a Man, 2000

Deepu S Unni, Cinematographer Gaarud, 2009

Dilip Patnaik, Director Nilamadhaba, 2008

Dipankar Chaki, Sound Designer Shabdo 2012; Nirbashito, 2014

Gadadhar Puty, Director Pooja, Paeen, Phulati, 2007

Gautam Nair, Sound Designer Ek Do, 2011; Chidhiya Udh, 2013;

Girish Kasaravalli, Director Padma Shri, 2011; Avashesh, 1975; Ghatashradhdha, 1977; Tabarana Kathe, 1986; Thaaye Saheba, 1997; Kraurya, 1996; Dweepa, 2002

Gurvinder Singh, Director Anhey Ghorhey Da Daan, 2011

Hansa Thapliyal, Director Jee Karta Tha, 1998

Harikumar Madhavan Nair, Audiography A Pestering Jounrey, 2011

Hari Nair, Cinematographer Sham’s Vision, 1996

Harshvardhan Kulkarni,Director Lost & found,2008

Indraneel Lahiri, Cinematograher Aamar Katha, Story of Binodini,2015

Irene Dhar Malik, Editor Celluloid Man, 2013

Jahnu Barua, Director Padma Shri, 2015, Aparoopa, 1983; Halodhia Choraye Bhaodan Khai, 1987; Bonani, 1990; Firingoti, 1992; Xagoroloi Bohu Door, 1995; The Price of Freedom, 1998; And the River Flows, 1999; Ride on the Rainbow, 2003; Baandhon, 2012; Ajeyo, 2013

Jasmin Kaur, Director Saanjh, 2004

Jayakrishna Gummadi, Cinematographer When This Man Dies, 2007

Kamal Swaroop, Director Phalke’s Children; RangBhoomi, 2013

Kaushal Oza,Director Vaishnav Jan Toh:2009,Afterglow:2012

Kavin Jagtiani, Cinematographer Mandrake Mandrake, 2013

K. G. George, Director Swapnadanam, 1975

K.G. Jayan, Cinematographer 18 Elephants- 3 Monologues, 2003

K.R. Mohanan, Director Purushartham, 1987; Swaroopam, 1992;

Kirti Nakhwa, Producer Lost & Found,2008

Krishnanunni ,Audiographer Anandaram:1987, Piravi:1988, Desadanam:1996

Kundan Shah, Director Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, 1984

Lipika Singh Darai, Sound Recordist Gaarud, 2009; A Tree, A Man, A Sea, 2012; Kankee O Saapo, 2013

Madhu Ambat, Cinematographer Adi Sankaracharya, 1984; Sringaram, 2006; Adaminte Makan Abu, 2010

Mahesh Thottathil, Director Death of a Prodigal Son, 1994

Manisha Dwiwedi,Director Avchetan, 2003

Manoj Kannoth, Editor Stations, 2008

Manoj Nitharwal, Director Seek & Hide, 2015

Manoj Lobo, Cinematographer Girni, 2005

M.P. Sukumaran Nair, Director Sayanam, 2001; Drishtantham, 2007

M.R. Rajan, Director Pakarnnattam, 1997; Ithihasathite Sparsham, 1999; Unarvite Kalam, 1999; Nottam, 2000; Minukku, 2006

Murali, Cinematographer Shyam,Raat,Seher, 2010

Nandan Kudhyadi, Director, Producer C.V. Raman, 1989; Rasayatra, 1995

Nandkumar Kavil, Director Athmeeyam, 1996

Nihar Samal,Sound Designer Tatvam Asi, 1997;

Nilanjan Dutta, Director Bhanga Gara:2007

Nishtha Jain, Director Gulaabi Gang, 2014

Pankaj Purandare, Director Dwija, 2004

Pankaj Seal, Audiographer Matir Bhnar, 1998

Paresh Kamdar, Editor Rasayatra, 1994

P.P. Govindan, Malbarriyum Pattunoolam, 1992

Prashant Naik, Editor Harvest of Hunger, 2004

Prateek Vats, Director Kal 15 August Dukaan Band Rahegi, 2010

Radhakrishnan, Sound Designer Anayam Resulam,2013

Rajat Kapoor, Director Tarana, 1995; Hynothesis, 1998; Raghu Romeo, 2004

Rajeev Ravi, Cinematographer Liar’s Dice, 2013

Ranjan Palit, Cinematographer, Director Voices from Baliapal, 1989; In the Forest Hangs the Bridge, 1998; Kaya Pooch Maya Se, 2003 ; In Camera, 2009

Reena Mohan, Director, Editor Kamlabai 1991; In The Forest Hangs a Bridge, 1998

Renu Sawant, Director Airawat : 2011, Aranyak :2014

Resul Pookutty, Sound Designer Padma Shri, 2010; Keralavarm Pazhissiraja, 2009

Saeed Mirza, Director, Mohan Joshi Hazar Ho, 1984; Naseem, 1996

Saikat S Ray, Editor Hope Dies Last In War, 2007

Sanjiv Shah, Editor Mirch Masala, 1985

Sanju Surendran, Director Kapila, 2014

Sankalp Meshram, Editor, Director Lokpriya, 2000; Chhutkan Ki Mahabharat, 2005; Lasya Kavya- The world of Alarmel Valli, 2012

Santosh Sivan, Cinematographer, Director, Producer Padma Shri, 2014, Story of Tiblu, 1988; Mohiniyattam, 1991; Perumthachan, 1991; Halo, 1996; Kala Paani, 1996; Iruvar, 1998; Malli, 1998; The Terrorist, 1998; Dil Se, 1999; Navarasa, 2004; Prarambha, 2008; Indian Rupee, 2011

Satheesh P.M., Sound Designer Kumar Talkies, 1999

Satya Rai Nagpaul, Cinematographer Anhey Ghorhey Da Daan, 2011

Shabnam Sukhdev, Director The Last Adieu, 2013

Shaji N. Karun, Cinematographer, Director Padma Shri, 2011, Thampu, 1979; Piravi, 1989; Swaham, 1995; Sham’s Vision, 1997; Vanaprastham, 1999; Kutty Srank, 2009

Shanker Raman, Cinematographer, Producer Frozen, 2007; Harud, 2012

Sivaprasad Ormayude Theerangalil

Sourav Sarangi, Director Bilal, 2009; Char: The No-Man’s Island, 2012

Subash Sahoo, Sound Engineer and Designer Omkara, 2007; Kaminey, 2010

Sudhakar Reddy,Director-Cinematographer Ek Akaash, 2003

Sudheer Palsane, Cinematographer Koyad, 2012

Sunil Sukhtankar, Doghi:1996,Devrai:2004

Sunny Joseph, Director Clown and Dog, 1984

Suresh Pai, Editor SNIP!, 2001; Page 3, 2005

Susant Misra, Director Indradhanura Chhaai, 1994; Biswaprakash, 2000

Tathagata Singha, Director Ekti Kaktaliyo Galpo, 2009

Umesh Kulkarni,Director Girni:2004,Three of us :2008,Deool:2011

Unni Vijayan, Director Lessons in Forgetting, 2012

Venu, Cinematographer, Director Amma Ariyan, 1986; Miss Beatty’s Children, 1992; Ponthan Mada, 1993; Daya, 1998

Vinod Sukumaran, Director Diary of a Housewife, 2002

Virendra Saini, Cinematographer, Director Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro, 1990; Kabhi Paas Kabhi Fail, 1999 108.Vivek, Sound Designer Ksha Tra Gya, 2004

V.R. Gopinath, Kooduthal Paal Venamenkil:1983, Unnikuttanu Joli Kitti:1990

SIGNATORIES FROM THE FILM FRATERNITY

Aditya Bikram Sengupta Asha Jawar Majhe, 2014

Anand Patwardhan, Director Bombay Our City, 1984

Anindya Chattopadhyay, lyricist Antaheen, 2008

Anirban Dasgupta Shabdo, 2012; Nirbhashito, 2014

Aniruddha RoyChowdhury, Producer Anuranan, 2007; Antaheen, 2008

Anjali Menon, Dialogue writer Ustad Hotel, 2012

Anjan Dutt, Music director Ranjana Aami Aar Ashbo, 2011

Anwar Rasheed, best Popular film Ustad Hotel, 2012

Aparna Sen, Padma Shri 1987, 36, Chowringhee Lane, 1981; Paroma, 1984; Yugant, 1995; Paromitar Ek din, 2000; Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, 2001; 15, Park Avenue, 2005

Asha Achy Joseph, Producer Diary of a Housewife, 2002

Asok Dasgupta, Cinematographer The Trail, 1998

Ashim Ahluwalia, Director John and Jane, 2007; Miss Lovely, 2014

Ayan Bhattacharya, audiographer Tender is the night, 2014

Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Producer, Director Bagh Bahadur, 1989 Charachar, 1983 Lal Darja, 1997 Mondo Meyer Upakhyan, 2002 Kaalpurush, 2008 Dooratwa, 1978 Phera, 1987 Tahader Katha, 1993 A Painter of Eloquent Silence: Ganesh Pyne, 1998 Uttara, 2000 Swapner Din, 2005

Chandramala Bhattacharya, producer Kahini, 1996

C.S.Venkiteswaran, Critic, Director Best Critic, 2002, 2009; Pakarnnattam, 1995

Dibakar Banerjee, Director Khosla Ka Ghosla, 2007, Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye, 2009

Dipankar Chaki, Sound Designer Shabdo, 2012; Nirbhashito, 2014

G.P.Ramachandran, Critic Best Critic, 2006

Gayatri Chatterjee, Film Scholar Awara, 1993

Geetanjali Thapa, Actress Liars Dice, 2013

Hansal Mehta, Director Shahid, 2013

I.Shanmugadas, Critic 1999

Iram Ghufran, Director, Editor There is Something in the Air, 2011

Joshy Mathew, Producer Black Forest

Jayaraj, Director, Producer Kaliyattam, 1997 Vellapokkathil – The Deluge, 2007 Vellapokkathil – The Deluge, 2007 Desadanam, 1996 Shantham, 2000 Daivanamathil, 2005 Ottal, 2014

Kamal Perumazhakkalam, 2004 Karutha Pakshikal, 2006; Celluloid, 2012

K.P. Kumaran, Director Rugmani, 1988

K.R. Manoj, Director A Pestering Journey, 2011

Kavitha Lankesh, Director Deeveri, 2000; Preethi, Prema, Pranya, 2004

M.Manikandan, director Kakka Muttai, 2014

Madhu Iravankara, writer 1999, best book on cinema

Malay Bhattacharya, Director Kahini, 1996

Mani Ratnam Padma Shri, 2002; Mouna Ragam, 1986 Geethanjali, 1989 Anjali, 1990 Roja, 1992 Bombay, 1995 Kannathil Muthamittal

Nagraj Manjule, director Fandry, 2013

Nandan Saxena, Director Cotton for my shroud 2011; Candles in the wind, 2013, I cannot give you my Forest, 2014

Neel Dutt, music Director Ranjana Aami Aar Ashbo, 2011

Nilanjan Bhattacharya, Producer Under This Sun, 2005; Johar: Welcome to our World

Nirmal Chander, Director Dreaming Tajmahal, 2012

Onir, Director I Am, 2012

Parthapratim Barman, sound designer Bishar Blues, 2008

Pradip Krishen, Director In Which Annie Gives It Those ones, 1989; Electric Moon, 1992

Priyanandanan, Producer Pulijanmam, 2006

Pradipto Bhattacharya, producer Bakita Byaktigoto, 2013

Rajeev Nath, Director Janani, 1998

Revathi, Actress, Producer Thevar Magan, 1992; Mitr, My Friend, 2002; Red Building Where the Sun Sets, 2011 156.

Rakesh Sharma, Director Final Solution, 2006

Ranjith, Producer Spirit, 2012 Thirakkatha, 2008 Indian Rupee, 2011

Ranajit Ray, director Documentation of clay images of Kumartuli

Rinku R. Thomas, Director Timbaktu, 2012

Sabarni Das, Costume Designer Jatishwar, 2010

Salim Ahmed, Producer Adaminte Makan Abu, 2011

Sabu Cyril, production designer Thenmavin Kombath, 1994; Kaalapani, 1995; Om Shanti Om, 2007; Enthiran, 2010

Sanjay Kak, Director In the Forest Hangs a Bridge, 1999

Sarbajit Sen, producer Painting in Time, 1995

Sathyan Anthikkad Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal, 2001

Sibi Malayil, Producer Kanakkinavu, 1997; Aakasadoothu, 1994; Doore Doore Koodu Koottam, 1987

Shajith Koyeri, Sound Designer Omkara, 2006

Sidhartha Siva, Director 101 Chodyangal, 2013; Ain, 2014

Somnath Gupta, Director Aami Aadu, 2011

Sreekar Prasad, Editor Raakh, 1989 Rag Birag, 1997 Nauka Caritramu, 1997 The Terrorist, 1998 Vaanaprastham, 2000 Kannathil Muthamittal, 2002 Kutty Srank; Kaminey Keralavarma Pazhassiraja

Srijit Mukherjee, Director, Screen play writer Chotushkone, 2014

Subhodeep Sengupta, sound designer Chitrasutram, 2010

Suja Kulangara An encounter with a life living, 2004

Sudipta Chakraborty, Actress Bariwali, 2000

Sumon Mukhopadhyay, Director Herbert, 2005

Sunil Shanbag, Producer Maihar Raag, 1994

Supriyo Sen, Producer Nest, 2000; Way Back Home, 2003; Hope Dies Last in War, 2007

T.V.Chandran, Producer Ponthan Mada, 1993; Ormakal Undayirikkanam, 1995; Mangamma, 1997; Dany, 2001; Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam, 2003; Aadum Koothu, 2005

T.K.Rajeevkumar, Producer Jalamarmaram, 2000

Tarun Bhartiya, Editor In Camera, 2010

V.K.Joseph, Critic Best Critic, 2007

Veenu Bhushan Vaid, Director Eka Gacha, Eka Mainsha, Eka Samudra, 201




 

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