Give me a chance, says new chairman Gajendra Chauhan after FTII students go on flash strike

The appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the new chairman of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has kicked up a controversy. The actor, who played Yudhishtir in TV series ‘Mahabharata’, is a BJP party member and has served as the joint convener for culture in the BJP.

Chauhan has also been a special invitee to BJP’s national executive meeting for two terms, an  Indian Express report said.

Soon after the Information and Broadcast Ministry appointed Chauhan for the top job, about 150 students pursuing various courses at the FTII went on a flash strike on Friday. While the students shunned the appointment calling it a ‘political’ move, noted filmmaker and FTII alumnus Jahnu Barua dubbed the appointment a ‘matter of concern,’ an Indian Express report said.

“I have nothing personal against Chauhan… But his appointment is a matter of concern. All well-wishers of the institute expect it to be headed by a stalwart. If that doesn’t happen, people don’t like it,” he told the newspaper.

Chauhan was picked ahead of the likes of lyricist Gulzar and filmmakers Shyam Benegal and Adoor Gopalakrishnan, who were learnt to have been shortlisted by the ministry for the top job.

Reacting to the ongoing stir, Gajendra Chauhan said he does not understand why are students protesting. Speaking to The Times of India, Chauhan said that opposition will only make him perform better as the new chairman.

“I have 34 years of experience in film and television. For two decades, I have been associated with the Cine and Television Association and rose to the rank of its president. Somebody is opposing my appointment. But opposition will only make me work better. It will inspire you,” he said.

Speaking to Times Now, Chauhan said that he wanted to speak to the students and tell them that without knowing his background and capabilities it was not fair to protest his appointment.

“Let’s meet across the table and discuss. After that we can decide what to do.” Chauhan said, adding that his name was recommended by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and it must have been done after due diligence.

“Please give me a chance. Let me work. My only agenda will be the betterment of the FTII,” Chauhan told the TV channel.

Asserting that they would continue their protest till Chauhan’s appointment is revoked, the students body alleged that it was purely out of consideration of his affiliation with BJP that Chauhan was chosen for the key post.

“A person who has an official affiliation with the ruling-BJP and who lacks the vision and stature of the past chairpersons in film-making, has put a question mark on the process of selection for the post earlier held by eminent people like Girish Karnad, Shyam Benegal and Adoor Gopalkrishnan,” head of FTII’s students union, Harikrishnan Nachimuthu told PTI.

At the gate of FTII, a billboard was put up by the protesting students asking Gajendra to “resign and leave”. FTII director D Narayanan said that the institute authorities have opened the channels for dialogue with the students.

“We are having a dialogue with the students to find a way out amicably,” he said.

Chauhan will be replacing noted director Saeed Mirza as the chairman. Mirza’s term ended last year. The Times of India reported that Chauhan will meet the FTII director in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Recent appointments by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has come under a lot of criticism. Many are of the belief that the BJP government is rewarding those who campaigned for BJP. Recently, the government appointed Mukesh Khanna, who played Bhishma in Mahabharata and later, Shaktimaan, as the head of Children’s Film Society. Khanna too had campaigned for the BJP, and was caught on camera calling Modi, “the Shaktimaan in Gujarat.”

The controversy over the appointment of censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani, a film maker who made promotional videos on Modi, is still to die down with rumours that he is set to be overthrown. The I&B ministry also appointed Malayalam actor and BJP supporter Suresh Gopi as the chairman of NFDC, in another controversial decision.