Mumbai : On Thursday, 24 filmmakers returned their national award protesting against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the chairperson of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), and also in the wake of recent incidents happening in the country where “an individual and his right is not being respected”.
In a press conference at the Mumbai Press Club, the delegation shared the letter that they had written to the Prime Minister and the President requesting them to resolve the crisis at FTII and also to ensure that the right to freedom of speech is unambiguously protected.
Saeed Mirza, screenwriter and director, returned his national award for his much acclaimed films Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho (1984) and Naseem (1996). Mirza graduated from FTII in 1976, and later taught there before becoming the chairperson of the premier institute.
Taking to Free Press Journal, Mirza said the government should change their mindset, they should believe in the freedom of speech and that everyone is equal before law. He said Gajendra Chauhan is not qualified to be chairman of FTII as it’s not an ordinary institute.
Madhusree Dutta, another acclaimed filmmaker, said that the PM and Information & Broadcast Ministry should immediately dissolve this body which had Gajendra Chauhan and other members of the Sangh on board. She added that the entire appointment process should be transparent.
She returned the three National Awards that she had won in the category of Best Film on a Social Issue (Memories of Fear, 1996), Best Anthropological Film (Scribbles on Akka , 1991), and Best Film on culture as a producer (Friend Fish, Chicken Soup And A Premiere Show, 2012).
All the filmmakers requested the government to act proactively on the issues the country is facing.
