FTII Protest: Dibakar Banerjee & nine others return National Award

An urgent press conference was called by members of the film fraternity to make an important announcement in response to the crisis at FTII.

In support of FTII students, filmmakers like Dibakar Banerjee and Anant Patwardhan have returned the country's highest literary award bestowed upon them. The filmmakers have asserted that they will side with the students in this protest.

Talking about his stand, filmmaker Paresh Kamdar said, "This government doesn't care for arts and freedom of speech. So, in solidarity and as a response to their call for the film fraternity to respond, with heavy heart and strong resolve I am returning my National Award."

A disappointed Anant Pathwardhan said, "For Bombay our city, with a heavy heart I return my first National Award. We don't want much from this government, it's just a resignation."

Dibakar Bannerjee expressed his anger too. He said, "Through the return of my award I want to appeal to pay attention to what the FTII students are saying. I know we will be ridiculed for this action, but I aim to speak for all Indians who want our classrooms to become institutes of learning and not mediocrity."

However, this was not all. The filmmakers have also written an open letter to the President and Prime Minister of India, addressing the issue, the ongoing protests and the reason why they are returning their National Awards.

Filmmakers who returned their award include the likes of Dibakar Bannerjee, Anand Patwardhan, Paresh Kamdar, Nishtha Jain, Kirti Nakhwe and Harshavardhan Kulkarni.