Her film ‘All We Imagine As Light’, which garnered a standing ovation of more than 8 minutes, is a story that celebrates self-discovery and female solidarity. The story revolves around two Malayali nurses Prabha and Anu, both of whom are experiencing problems in their romantic lives. One day, the two nurses embark on a road trip to a beach town, where the mystical forest transforms into a realm where their dreams come to life.

After the news of the historic win emerged, many, including several Bollywood actors and filmmakers, took to social media to congratulate Kapadia. Kiara Advani, Anurag Kashyap, Radhika Apte, Swara Bhasker, Richa Chadha, Bhumi Pednekar, Shekhar Kapur and others lauded the young filmmaker for the feat.

Among these congratulatory posts were some posts that had highlighted the fight that Kapadia had led almost a decade ago, with her alma mater Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), which had costed her a scholarship, a foreign-exchange programme opportunity and a tag of being an “anti-national.”

A voice of dissent in 2015

In 2015, Kapadia was at the forefront of protest against the appointment of actor-turned-politician Gajendra Chauhan as the institute’s chairperson. Chauhan was best known for his portrayal of Yudhisthir in the mega TV serial ‘Mahabharat’, and was also alleged to have connections with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. According to the protesting students, Chauhan did not match the vision and stature of past chairmen of the FTII governing council, and his appointment appeared “politically coloured”.

The said protest at one of the most premiere film institutes had lasted more than four months, making it the longest demonstration in the institution’s history. Kapadia’s act of boycotting her classes as a form of protest led to the revocation of her scholarship by the institute.

On August 5, 2015, during the 68^th day of the aforementioned protest, while students were absent from classes and voicing their concerns through impassioned speeches, Prashant Pathrabe, the then-director of the FTII, had issued a notice to the 2008 batch students, demanding that they vacate the hostel due to overstaying. Furthermore, an order was issued to assess their film projects, the majority of which were incomplete. The students, deeming Pathrabe’s action “irrational and unjustified,” had then confronted him in his office with the aim to seek clarification. The protesting students surrounded his office, forming a human chain, and held him captive. In response, the police conducted a midnight crackdown, resulting in the arrest of five students. Approximately 35 students, including Kapadia, were later named in the charge sheet.

Consequently, despite being one of the most promising students of her batch, Kapadia was deprived of an opportunity to be on a coveted foreign exchange programme, as well as a scholarship of Rs 22,000. She also had to face a hate campaign against her that had deemed her to be an “anti-national”, asking her to “Go Back to Pakistan.”

It is to be noted that the said 35 students, which included Kapadia, had sections 143, 147, 149, 323, 353 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code invoked against them. The section dealt with offenses such as unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation and rioting. A Pune court had taken cognizance of the case and the chargesheet had been filed in the year 2016.

As per a report of Mathrubhumi, Advocate Chinmay Inamdar, who is defending the students in the case filed, said that the case remains pending in the Court. As stated by Inamdar, the prosecution had filed the chargesheet but not submitted the video file in the form of CD/DVD or pen drive of the incident of the director being gheraoed in 2015. Since the video is not available with the defence, they cannot move a discharge application in the case. As per the report, Inamdar stated that “We have moved an application before the court to get a copy so that we can file a discharge application for the students and the matter is pending for this.”

The Matrubhumi report also provided the statement of Ameya Gore, one of the 35 students who were booked in the case. As per Gore, pursuant to the incident, the majority of the students faced issues with scholarships and obtaining passports. Speaking about the case, Fore stated that “The case is still ongoing in the Sessions Court, but there has been no progress from the prosecution’s side. The trial has not started yet. Hearings are generally scheduled every two to three months, but nothing happens because nobody from the prosecution shows up.”

Ironically, only a month after this win, on June 26, Kapadia has her hearing scheduled in the Pune Court.

Notably, in 2017, the new FTII director Bhupendra Kainthola had issued a letter of support and funded Payal’s travel to Cannes for her short film screening. The said short film was ‘A Night of Knowing Nothing’ for which she won the ‘le prix du documentaire’ for Best Documentary. Interestingly, FTII and Hindutva politics were the twin themes of Kapadia’s debut docu-feature. The said documentary is yet to be released in India.

Many now conveniently support, claim credit in Kapadia’s win:

As the news of Kapadia winning the prestigious award broke out, FTII took up the opportunity to congratulate Kapadia, conveniently forgetting its own actions and charged against her. In its post, the FTII stated, “It is a moment of pride for FTII as its Alumni create history at Cannes. As we witness a phenomenal year for Indian Cinema at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, FTII cherishes the glorious achievements of its Alumni at this Mega International Stage of Cinema. We congratulate Payal Kapadia for winning the Grand Prix Award, Santosh Sivan for receiving the Pierre Angénieux Tribute Award, Maisam Ali for his debut at ACID & Chidanand S Naik for winning La Cinef. Their achievements are taking Indian Cinema to greater heights.”

It is a moment of pride for FTII as its Alumni create history at Cannes.

As we witness a phenomenal year for Indian Cinema at 77th Cannes Film Festival, FTII cherishes the glorious achievements of its Alumni at this Mega International Stage of Cinema.#cannes2024 #cannesawards pic.twitter.com/3fFURhzuSK

— FTII (@FTIIOfficial) May 26, 2024

In addition to this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to ‘X’ to congratulate Kapadia by posting “India is proud of Payal Kapadia for her historic feat of winning the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival for her work ‘All We Imagine as Light’. An alumnus of FTII, her remarkable talent continues to shine on the global stage, giving a glimpse of the rich creativity in India. This prestigious accolade not only honours her exceptional skills but also inspires a new generation of Indian filmmakers.”

India is proud of Payal Kapadia for her historic feat of winning the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival for her work ‘All We Imagine as Light’. An alumnus of FTII, her remarkable talent continues to shine on the global stage, giving a glimpse of the rich creativity in… pic.twitter.com/aMJbsbmNoE

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2024

It is to be noted that the BJP party was the ruling party in 2015 when the “anti-national” smear campaign was being run against Kapadia. The party had not said a word in support of the protesting students that were being targeted.

The past not forgotten:

After FTII put out the post congratulating Kapadia, actor Ali Fazal was quick to call out the institute’s hypocrisy. Taking to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Faizal reposted FTII’s post with the caption “Uhhh… please don’t. Just don’t”.

Uhhh… please don’t. Just dont. https://t.co/UcBzjUp4GO

— Ali Fazal M / میر علی فضل / अली (@alifazal9) May 26, 2024

Many other social media users had also criticised FTII’s stance, calling it hypocritical. One such criticism was put out by Oscar winning sound designer Resul Pookutty also called out FTII in a lengthy post on Facebook. He wrote, “But the big win came from #payalkapadia #AllWeImgineAsLight. It would be interesting to pause for a moment and think, has Indian Film Industry anything to do with this win?! None! Who all are been taken to Cannes by Govt. of India as delegation every year?! The usual suspects and familiar faces from mainstream Industry… What makes Payal’s win so important?! Not just that she is from FTII, that the is from a group of people/ students enthusiasts who are regular people who come from varied corners of India and signed themselves to be strugglers for the rest of their lives (sic).”

Through bad times and good:

An exception to those who have now come out to celebrate Kapadia’s success standing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Even in 2015, Gandhi had come out in support of the protesting students of FTII.

Visiting the FTII College during the protest, Gandhi had urged the government to hold a conversation with the protesting students and listen to their demands. In a social media post, Gandhi had written “The students only want to say that the government should listen to their voice, there should be discussion and dialogue.”

Students का सिर्फ यही कहना है, की सरकार को इनकी आवाज़ सुननी चाहिए, discussion होना चाहिए, बात-चीत होनी चाहिए pic.twitter.com/Z5seTXJn8p

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 31, 2015

At FTII interacting with protesting students pic.twitter.com/Eqfpx96eNE

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 31, 2015

The students are only asking for their voice to be heard.It will not make the Govt smaller if they have a discussion: Rahul Gandhi at FTII

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 31, 2015

The RSS/BJP model of education is destroying the creativity of our institutions,harming future of youth #FTII Watch: https://t.co/KaAck80fjl

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 19, 2015

I want to send a message to the students of FTII that they are fighting a very important fight for the soul of this country #RGwithFTII

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 13, 2015

Gandhi had also written a memorandum to the President of India in support of the FTII students.

Memorandum to the President on the FTII issue #RGwithFTII @nsui @INCIndia pic.twitter.com/3OYug5FPwA

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 13, 2015

When the crackdown of the police had taken place against the protesting students, which had resulted in the arrest of 5 students, Gandhi had written “Protesting #FTII students arrested in #midnightcrackdown.Our students are not criminals Modiji.Silence.Suspend.Arrest; ModiMantra for AcheDin”

Protesting #FTII students arrested in #midnightcrackdown.Our students are not criminals Modiji.Silence.Suspend.Arrest:ModiMantra for AcheDin

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 19, 2015

On Kapadia’s present win at 77th Cannes Film Festival, Rahul Gandhi had written a congratulatory message for Kapadia which stated “Congratulations to Payal Kapadia and the entire team of ‘All We Imagine as Light’ for clinching the prestigious Grand Prix award.”

Indian stars shining bright at the 77th Cannes Film Festival!

Congratulations to Payal Kapadia and the entire team of ‘All We Imagine As Light’ for clinching the prestigious Grand Prix award.

Kudos to Anasuya Sengupta for winning the Best Actress award under the Un Certain… pic.twitter.com/5lRPgdeezI

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 26, 2024

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The post 2015 FTII protest headliner Payal Kapadia wins the Grand Prix award for her directorial debut in ‘All We Imagine as Light’ appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On January 23, some unidentified persons entered the premises of the film institute, burned a poster mentioning the Babri Masjid, completely vandalised student exhibits and and even brutally attacked some students.

National Award winning filmmaker and FTII alumnus Sunil Sukthankar, veteran theatre artist Sushama Deshpande, photographer and artist Sandesh Bhandare, author and member of PUCL Milind Champarnekar were part of the delegation that submitted a letter to the FTII administration on February 1, yesterday.

The letter addressed to the director of the institute stated — “We feel that FTII should consider the circumstances sensitively and do more to ensure safety and security of students. Instead of taking any coercive action, students should be treated sympathetically, and their right to freedom of expression within the premises should be ensured and protected.”

This delegation also consisted of representatives of civil society groups like PUCL (People’s Union for Civil liberties), NAPM (National Alliance for People’s Movements), Samajwadi Mahila Sabha, NSA (New Socialist Alternative) and student groups like Yuvak Kranti Dal, National Students Union of India (NSUI) and others.

All these groups along with Pune filmmaker and FTII alumnus Umesh Kulkarni and others submitted a letter to the DCP–Special Branch on January 31 requesting unbiased proceedings.

The letter also addressed to the Commissioner of Police stated — “While the latter case (against FTII students) is being pursued vigorously with serious non-bailable offences slapped on them, not much is being done in the complaint registered by FTII (against the attackers), in which relatively lesser offences have been registered.”

Since the incident, police have been deployed on the campus, and disciplinary proceedings initiated by the administration and classes were boycotted by students. This was followed by an FIR lodged by the college against unidentified persons and another by an individual against some students of the college.

In a subsequent press release, these groups stated that their request for a peaceful demonstration intended to be held on January 31 against the FTII incident was shot down by police. The organisations have postponed the demonstration programme but negotiations are underway for police permission, a source said. They also drew attention to the inaction against perpetrators of violence against students in Savitribai Phule Pune University on November 1 and 3.

Related:

Five FTII Pune students booked by police for “hurting religious sentiments” over displaying ‘Remember Babri’ banner

Mob attacks FTII students on campus

Five states report communal incidents following the inauguration of the Ram Temple in UP

Eve of Ram temple inauguration sees “clashes”, planting of saffron flag atop Church

Preamble, banners, slogans of solidarity, inter-faith rallies and protests – symbol of undying secularism on January 22

The post Ensure fair investigation, protection of dissent & safety of students on FTII campus: Film makers to Pune police appeared first on SabrangIndia.

It is essential to note here that on January 23, a day after the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya, a mob of at least 25 people had barged into the FTII campus and had angrily raked through the campus despite the presence of the campus security personnel. The mob had burned a banner that has been put up inside the campus stating ‘Remember Babri, Death of Constitution’ and had assaulted many students, including women, too. As per a report of the Arunachal Times, Mankap Nokwoham, an Arunachalee student hailing from Changlang district, who is also the president of the Film & Television Institute of India (Pune) Student Association (FTIISA), had been brutally assaulted by alleged members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarti Parishad inside the FTII campus.

An FIR had been filed by the institute against the mob. Notably, Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to unlawful assembly, rioting, causing hurt, trespassing, damage to property and criminal intimidation had been invoked by the police against unnamed 10-12 people. And now, as per a report of the Times of India, in a cross lodging of case, the police have registered a case against six students of the institute over displaying a banner and posters with alleged “objectionable” matter.

Pursuant to the filing of the FIR, on January 24 itself, a press note had been released by the FTIISA. The said press note refers to events that took place inside the campus on January 23, stating that “the campus still remains terrorized.” Referring to the FIR filed by the institute against the mob, the note pointedly states how the institute “failed to mention some grievous happenings of the day, including the charge of infringing on women’s modesty.”

The statement also specifies that the assailants in the mob had “not just burnt banners and shouted slogans in the name of Ram, they also pushed slapped, shoved, punched and attacked many students gathered there while hurling abuses”.

The press note also addresses the issue of false portrayal the said incidents on social media platforms. To clarify their stance, the press note states “Hindutva organisations have painted a false picture of the events. Students have not attacked anyone, we were only defending ourselves.” The note also highlights the social media posts that are threatening the FTII students with physical violence and harassment.

Referring to the filing of the FIR against the students, deeming it to be a “serious concern”, the press note stated that there has been a random targeting of five students out of a gathering and the five accused had been exercising their right to defend. As per a report of the Quint, the FIR filed against the students includes sections 153-B (1) (c) and 295 (a) of the IPC, both of which relates to allegation that the acts of the students potentially caused disharmony or enmity and that outrage religious feelings.

Through the note, the FTIISA has then asserted their right to freedom of speech and expression as well as their commitment to protect the secular values of our country. Condemning the said attack they faced as well as the targeting the students are being subjected to, the student association has written that “if upholding the secular values and expressing dissent against their erasure is considered objectionable and worthy of violence to these assailants, we feel strongly that everyone should be alerted of the dire straits we are in, and the kind of terror that surrounds us today.”

The complete press note can be read here:

FIR Copy can be seen here.

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Mob attacks FTII students on campus

Five states report communal incidents following the inauguration of the Ram Temple in UP

Eve of Ram temple inauguration sees “clashes”, planting of saffron flag atop Church

Preamble, banners, slogans of solidarity, inter-faith rallies and protests – symbol of undying secularism on January 22

The post Five FTII Pune students booked by police for “hurting religious sentiments” over displaying ‘Remember Babri’ banner appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Hindutva groups barged into FTII Pune, launching attack on students & setting ablaze banner reading “remember Babri”. Assailants, chanting “Jai Shri Ram” & derogatory slogans, targeted both male and female students. Students claim police complicity in the assault.

Watch: pic.twitter.com/MyQk294xkS

— Maktoob (@MaktoobMedia) January 23, 2024

The student body at the institute, FTII Students’ Association had screened Anand Patwardhan’s award-winning documentary of the Babri Masjid demolition called Raam ke Naam on January 22nd, 2024. They had even invited Patwardhan for the screening of the documentary at the campus. However, despite pressure and threats, students revealed, they managed to screen the documentary and hold a live questions and answers session peacefully in the campus. However, little did they know that they would be attached the very next day!

A press note released by the student body states that once the police arrived, they took no action against the mob, who started leaving, and the culprits were “free to go.” The press note also decries the narrative, they say, is spread in the media that the incident was a scuffle between the two groups. 

Sabrang India spoke to a Sayantan Chakrabarti, general secretary of the Student’s Association at from the institute, who stated that the situation continues to remain very tense in the campus. Students continue to be threatened and under fear even though the police has been deployed as of now. 

Indian film actor Madhavan was recently nominated in September 2023 as the institute’s chairman. Madhavan recently took to Instagram to make a reportedly celebratory post about the Ram Temple inauguration in Ayodhya yesterday. 

Incidents similar to this have been witnessed on several occasions in the past two days. Students in Kerala’s KR Narayanan Film Institute were also unable to screen the documentary without disruptions. A group of people gathered and protested the screening outside the premises of the institute, following which they had to screen Raam ka Naam inside the institute’s premises. The local police had to arrive and diffuse the crowd. 

Similarly, on January 21, a film screening of the same documentary was disrupted by Hindutva outfits in Hyderabad. Rather than taking action against the disruptors, the police targeted the event organisers. Although now released, the owners of Marley’s Joint Bistro, where the screening took place, and members of the organising body, Hyderabad Cinephiles, were swiftly arrested and had charges filed against them which include Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 290 (public nuisance), 295A (outraging religious feelings), and 149 of the Indian Penal Code.

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The post Mob attacks FTII students on campus appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Students’ Association of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) on Friday announced its decision to hold demonstrations on the campus on July 30 against alleged irregularities in the admission of students from the reservation categories

In a press release, the students’ association stated, “FTII published their final merit list for the academic year 2021 on 26/07/2022. It is painfully visible for us to see that yet again, the authorities have made a gross mockery of the provisions of Reservation by which these admissions are to take place. Many seats as well as waitlist positions in the OBC, SC and ST categories have not been filled, citing reasons of ineligibility.”

SC, ST, OBC students are protesting against Film & Television Institute of India authorities for not following reservation policy in admission of students for its current academic year. Please amplify. If the protest were against a BJP nominee, the news would have everywhere. pic.twitter.com/02DeAQ81dN

— sagar choudhary (@sagar_reporter) July 29, 2022

“When questioned, the authorities mentioned that many candidates did not pass their cut-off percentages (45% for OBC (NCL) and Gen EWS, 40% for SC and ST and Gen PwD and 50% for General). There is no transparency about how these figures are arrived upon and by whom, not to mention that the validity of this criteria is questionable by itself,” it further said.

The student body said that due to this ‘arbitrary rule’, every year the authorities can claim that they did not find suitable candidates in the reserved categories and fill in the seats set for them with students from the General category.

The body said that the orientation and interview process accounts for 80% of the total grade for admission to the institute and that leaves the process ambiguous to those who want to question the reasons for which some candidates have been deemed ineligible. “Even so, it is evident that a bias exists in how candidates are evaluated and deemed ineligible as our reserved seats remain unoccupied by aspirants from those categories across different departments. Additionally, the orientation and interview were conducted online this time, highlighting further inequalities with which candidates were attempting their admission,” it said.

The press release called this phenomenon a ‘growing trend’ that they observed consistently over the years in an effort to put a ‘filter’ on the incoming members of the institute as well as to mute the voices of students against ‘attacks’ on basic social rights. “The student community considers this a blatant violation of the laws of reservation hiding under the garb of self-made rules of the institute. We firmly stand against their values reflected in the merit list and ask that they re-evaluate the result,” it said.

“It is also highly questionable why only candidates from the General category are able to clear their cut off, while those from other categories aren’t. By this process, the seats supposed to be left open for all in the General category also remain closed for those from other categories,” it said.

Courtesy: Siasat

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The film mainly revolves around Kabir Kala Manch.

This is what we have always been afraid of!

Most of our earlier GBMs during strike was about how the new appointments, systematic and strategic crackdown of FTII would change the nature and philosophy of the place. We had discussions of what if one day they stop screening eastern bloc cinema and ask us to produce censor certificate for our own films. Finally our nighgmares are becoming a scary reality! The day FTII students are asked to produce the censor certificate to screen the students films isn’t far!

During strike, the then director Prasanth Pathrabe had tried to stop the screening of Sabnam Sukhdev’s film ‘The telephone’, pointing at the censor issues. Post strike, our access to the classroom theatre has been restricted by the admin and today they stopped Nachi’s film screening.
When the 2008 batch diplomas were to be assessed as is where is basis, the admin had got police men standing outside the Main Theatre to keep us away from our own films’ assessment.Now, when ABVP, the right wing outfit which had once attacked FTII students for screening Jai Bhim Comrade, issues a threat, why don’t the admin and the director Mr Bhupendra Kainthola ask for police protection?

Nachimuthu, being a student at the premiere film school of the country that is being funded by the public money has all the right to have his film screened, whenever he wants once the film is made. The institute has the responsibility to make sure that the screening happens without any issues.

Why is the admin not ready to take a step towards it when in other cases they rush to finish off the films and send the students out? Are public servants not supposed to do their duty if there’s a threat from any fringe groups? If the students of FTII cannot screen our own films at FTII, where else it would be possible in this country, under current scenario?

May be these concerns are for later. But now we need to make sure at least the screening of Hora will happen in the campus without getting interrupted by the admin, ABVP or any other right wing outfit. It is a question of freedom of expression without doubt for which we have always stood for!

#ftii
#hora
#FreedomofExpression

Shini J.K is a film professional

Courtesy: https://countercurrents.org/

The post FTII Deny Permission To Screen Student Film In Its Own Campus! appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Image: Indian Express

In a clear move to crack down on students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), who staged a four-month-long strike to protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the head of the institute, the administration has started refusing scholarships and the opportunity to participate in foreign exchange programmes to those who have “disciplinary matters” pending for their involvement in the protests reports The Indian Express. (http://indianexpress.com/article/education/to-enforce-discipline-no-scholarships-foreign-visit-nod-for-ftii-students-who-participated-in-agitation-4480868/)

As per the file notings obtained by The Indian Express, FTII Director Bhupendra Kainthola has directed the heads of departments (HODs) and Deans to route all files pertaining to scholarships and foreign exchanges through the office of the Proctor, who is in charge of maintaining discipline. Documents obtained by The Indian Express, under the Right to Information Act, from various FTII departments showed that the nomination of eight students, who have “disciplinary matters” pending against them, came under the scanner.

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