As FTII students go on a hunger strike, eminent filmmakers have appealed to the President to resolve the crisis. Filmmakers like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Dibakar Banerjee, Hansal Mehta and others held a press conference in Mumbai where they spoke of their expectations as filmmakers, and alumni members of FTII and why they stand in solidarity with the FTII students.
Addressing the media, noted filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan said a memorandum demanding the removal of Gajendra Chauhan, signed by 190 people, including Bollywood star Vidya Balan, has been sent to President Pranab Mukherjee, to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Information and Broadcasting. He also said:
It is important that the chairman of the governing body (of FTII) is governed by eminent people from different fields like theatre, painting, arts, etc. The current chairman cannot claim to govern the institute because he does not even understand his roles.
— Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Filmmaker
A question that has been on people’s minds is that why Bollywood has not whole-heartedly supported the protesting students. Filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee addressed this question and urged more and more people from Bollywood to join the cause.
There is still a reluctance on the part of Bollywood to speak up on the issue. We urge them to. Producers and distributors are vulnerable and so are scared that if they take a stand they’ll be targeted.
— Dibakar Banerjee, Filmmaker
Dibakar Banerjee also told The Quint how the students are being targeted and have been criminalised at various occasions.
Hansal Mehta, meanwhile, had a message for the media.
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