Filmmakers Kundan Shah, Aziz Mirza demand Chauhan’s dismissal

New Delhi, July 12

Even as Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) students' protest to demand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member and actor Gajendra Chauhan's dismissal as chairman of the institute's Governing Council enters its second month on Sunday, the list of film personalities extending their support to the cause appears to be growing by the day. The most recent additions to this ever-swelling opposition are filmmakers Kundan Shah and Aziz Mirza, who have wondered why Chauhan refuses to quit knowing he is unwelcome.

FTII alumni Shah, who is known for his 1983 cult classic ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’, calls Chauhan’s appointment an "absurd" decision.

"Isn't the whole issue shameful? It's a shameful decision by the ministry. Who knows this man (Chauhan)? Just see his body of work? By appointing such a person, what is the government trying to do? He's completely unwilling to step down despite so much of chaos. It's very sad. What country we are living in?" Shah told PTI.

Echoing similar sentiments, Mirza says: "Chauhan should step down since he is not wanted. Chauhan is putting up a flop show by not resigning. He should step down soon.” He, however, called the persistent protests foolhardiness and said students must now back down.

Chauhan, best known for playing Yudhisthira on TV epic ‘Mahabharata’, took over as chairman last month, an appointment that has been vehemently protested since by students who have been boycotting classes and abandoning academic.

Students have been protesting Chauhan’s appointment for a month now. They claim the appointment is politically coloured — a deliberate attempt to interfere with the institute’s autonomy — with no regard for his lack of credentials for the position.

So, far, several people from the industry, including some acclaimed film personalities such as National Award-winning documentary filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, veteran actor-director Amol Palekar, Oscar-winning sound designer and mixer Resul Pookutty, Bollywood actors Rishi and Ranbir Kapoor, Anupam Kher and actor Rajkumar Rao, have extended their support to the protest, which began on June 12.

Actress Pallavi Joshi and National Award-winning filmmaker Jahnu Barua have resigned as members of the FTII in support of the protest.

Talks held with the central government have ended in an impasse: while the students refuse to accept anything short of Chauhan’s resignation, the central government has so far refused to relent.

Unfazed by the growing voices of opposition, however, Chauhan remains adamant, maintaining that he has been appointed on the merit of the 34 years he has spent in showbiz.

Chauhan’s list of movies includes ‘Jungle Love’, ‘Khuli Khidki’ and ‘Vasna’, all of which are considered B-grade. 

Cong mocks govt's defence on appointment, wants Jaitley to clarify  

The Congress trained its guns on the government for claiming that Chauhan was appointed for being willing to devote time to the institute and demanded a clarification from I&B Minister Arun Jaitley.

"Jaitley who usually clarifies on several issues and had even backed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, should speak on this issue. This is especially necessary as he is reported to have said that Chauhan's was not the best choice," party spokesman Raj Babbar told reporters.

Defending its appointment after reports claimed that that actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rajnikanth were among the names suggested for the top post at FTII, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had said: "The government wanted the Governing Council, including the chairman, to be people who could commit time for the development of the institute." —  PTI