Events & Issues

New Delhi, 20 July 2015

FTII Logjam

FILM GONE AWRY

By Nikhil Gajendragadkar

One of India’s premier institutes, Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) is in turmoil. For over a month, students of this Pune-based college are on ‘strike’. They are opposing appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the Chairperson of the Institute’s Governing Council. The controversy has taken an ugly turn with the RSS, the parent organization of BJP, accusing ‘all who are opposing Chauhan are anti-Hindu’. How can education be divided on the basis of religion? The preposterous allegation, made in its mouthpiece, the Organiser has enraged many in the country.

The fracas started in early June when the Information and Broadcasting Ministry appointed Chauhan. Barely, had the news broken, that students were up in arms resulting in the strike. Though students are claiming they have nothing personal against Chauhan, they are objecting to his selection and appointment process as he belongs to the BJP which is the sole criterion behind his selection. 

The students have taken umbrage against the ‘saffronisation’ of education. Even as the Government argues, it is its prerogative to appoint a Chairperson.

True, Chauhan has acted in a few noteworthy Hindi films but he is best known for his role of Yudhishthir or Dharmaraj in B.R Chopra’s TV serial ‘Mahabharata’.  So his credentials to head the FTII are being challenged. On his part, Chauhan’s argument is as the Government has chosen him, some thought must have gone in the process and the selectors must have found some qualities in him. No matter many eminent people from the film industry have suggested that Chauhan step down but he has refused to oblige.

In fact, even as he has yet to take charge, some members of the Governing Council have resigned.  Now it is looking as a fight between Chauhan and others. Caught in a fix, the Government does not seem inclined to take back its decision, thus a solution to this stalemate appears difficult.

Pertinently, the FTII Established in 1960 and set up on the lines of the erstwhile “Prabhat Film Company” has been mired in controversies for many years. During the Emergency days in the mid-seventies was huge and since then strikes became a regular feature in the early 80’s and sadly continues till date.

Notably, the Institute’s course structure, syllabus and faculty are main areas of disagreement. Add to this, the three year’s course is taking four-five years to finish. People who have been associated with the Institute in the past allege that many students do not complete projects assigned to them in time and are overstaying

To improve this situation, 2010 and 2014 were declared as ‘zero’ years, i.e. no admissions were made. At present there are 242 students in the FTII of which nearly 100 should have passed out long ago.  A majority of the students with a backlog are from the 2011 batch, others belong to 2008-09 batches.

Asserted outgoing Director DJ Narain, “After putting in hard work for three years the Institute has prepared new syllabus. The question is when will this come into force?

Importantly, as a film has many components similarly an Institute too needs a faculty from many streams i.e. editing, script-writing, lighting, sound and camera etc.

Thus, getting a good faculty is a big problem with the FTII as people from the film industry are unwilling to come to Pune for a Government job. Also, many new film schools have come up in various parts of the country which attract experienced, talented people, leaving FTII in a lurch. Perhaps, the I&B Ministry should now wake up to this reality.

Recall, a group of experts was appointed nearly five years ago to study and suggest ways to improve the working of the Institute. It noted how students were working unsupervised and experimenting with equipments alone. Add to this, regular disruption in academic functioning led to long breaks and students went home for unusually long periods.

While some students sought professional assignments outside the Institute to earn money to support themselves. Consequently, in this scenario the study of cinema and the learning process was relegated to the back burner.

Besides, students blame the faculty, or rather its absence, for the sorry state of affairs at the FTII. According to them, faculty members, particularly those who are ‘permanent’ and hold key posts are ‘complacent’. Many of them are not available for guidance when needed.

Worse, there are no experts to teach new media and digital technology. And the person who heads the Institute is invariably a civil servant without any experience of cinema, TV and is at there for a two or three years posting. By the time he grasps the situation, creative and other demands of the Institute and students, he is transferred. 

Scandalously, the Government’s apathy has kept the Institute backward as for the administration it is just another ‘media unit’ in its fold. Many experts including renowned film makers and past alumni have advocated ‘autonomy’ for the FTII.

In 1971, The Government had appointed the GD Khosla Committee “to conduct an investigation into the working of FTII and make recommendations to the Government”. Eminent film directors Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Mani Kaul and Teji Bachchan who were its members suggested conferring autonomous status to the Institute by an Act of Parliament. Alas, there has been no progress on this front for the last 44 years.

Questionably, will ‘autonomy’ solve all the FTII’s problems ‘automatically’? There is no certainty. Talks between students, Minister and the I&B Ministry have failed. Now the Director has issued stern warning to the students to call off their strike, resume classes immediately or face disciplinary action, including rustication.

Raising a moot point: What have the students achieved? What is the reason behind their opposition to Chauhan? They have not substantiated allegations of ‘saffronisation’ of the course?  Can a film course get any colour?  Students aver they are fighting for ‘freedom’. But can’t they show their freedom of expression when they make a film for the public.

The Modi Government has been accused of trying to gain control over all major educational institutes or centres like IIMs. Last month the HRD ministry banned a student’s outfit for criticizing the Central Government in IIM-Madras. After much hue and cry the ban was revoked.  Any move, that the RSS or BJP thinks is against the party or the Government is being branded as either ‘anti-Hindu’ or ‘anti-national’. This psyche will further vitiate the educational atmosphere in India and particularly in FTII. This apart, no one from the public is allowed to scrutinize the FTII’s functioning. We are only getting different ‘versions’ of what is happening there.

In sum, it is true that the Institute needs overhauling of all its departments. Simultaneously, its curriculum has to be at par with other film schools globally. If the Government is not ready to lose control of the FTII at least it must be sensitive to the students’ legitimate demands.

Clearly, education has no religion and the FTII is not just a heritage showpiece but a unique living Institute. It must thrive and nurture and produce new talent. For that the Government, students and film fraternity need to come together. Only then can the Institute serve the society creatively. ----- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)