Actress Pallavi Joshi, filmmaker Jahnu Barua quit FTII body over students’ protest

New Delhi/Pune, July 6

Actress Pallavi Joshi and National Award-winning filmmaker Jahnu Barua have resigned as members of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Society, both citing the ongoing students’ protest against the appointment of actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as Chairman of the institute as the reason behind the decision.

Joshi, who said she conveyed her decision to the society in a latter three days ago, pledged her support to the protest saying:  "There is no point in continuing as member of the FTII Society if the students with whom I wanted to interact as future prospects of the film industry, are unhappy."

"I am firm on my stand supporting the students' demands. I do not want to see the students of this premier institute joining the film industry unsatisfactorily with half-baked knowledge," Joshi said when she was asked if she would reconsider.

Barua, an alumnus of the FTII, said he had been reluctant to continue told hold his position at the institute since the protest began over 20 days ago.

"I had conveyed my resignation to the director of FTII through a mail," he said, adding her would, however, be willing to extend his help to the institute.

"I have always been assisting government on the matter of FTII. I shall continue to do so. It's my duty to assist because I am emotionally attached to it," Barua said.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had announced the nomination of Barua, Joshi and other members to the FTII society last month.

Students have been protesting Chauhan’s appointment for almost a month. Protesters claim that the appointment was politically coloured and without regard for Chauhan’s lack of credentials to head a known film education institute. Students also claim that the government is attempting to infringe upon the institute’s autonomy through the appointment.

Students renewed their protest on Saturday after talks with I&B Ministry ended in an impasse. The protest has found support from many quarters — several leading personalities of Indian cinema as well as student unions. PTI