Film and Television Institute of India red in black and white

Hyderabad: Protests against Gajendra Chauhan’s appointment as chairman of Film and Television Institute of India is gaining momentum all over India. On Sunday, there was a sit-down in Hyderabad’s Lamakaan, on how alumni, independent film-makers and other like-minded people could send a message across to the government — in the best possible way.

Those who’ve been under a rock, the 15-day FTII strike has been about Chauhan’s appointment as chairman. He is a member of the BJP and students on campus fear a political taint.

The Lamakan speakers included Ellahe Hiptoola — who has produced almost all of Nagesh Kukunoor movies, filmmaker Mahesh Katti, independent filmmaker Rohit Penumatsa and writer Sriram Karri.

Hiptoola said that as a filmmaker, developing a certain sensibility was important and that is what FTII students are known for. “Also, we do not have to be told how to be patriotic,” she added. But there’s an attempt currently on by students and alumni to create a social media buzz about the protests.

“We are shooting all images of protests nationwide in black and white. The deletion of colour symbolises our lack of freedom of expression. It’s called the ‘No Colour campaign’, reveals Balakrishna Sharma, a former FTII student, now based out of Hyderabad.

The black and white protest comes even as thinkers and activists urge FTII students to campaign in more “unique ways” for maximum impact.

Sriram Karri, author of Autobiography of a Mad Nation, said there has been no hue and cry about the appointment of heads of other PSUs and FTII was a small organisation to worry about.

“The method of protesting is like that of a trade union’s. Filmmakers should protest creatively. A good artist does not necessarily mean a good administrator. There have been politically inclined deans earlier, but there were no protests regarding that.”