PUNE: Well-known actress Pallavi Joshi has written to the secretary (films) in the I&B ministry saying she does not want to be part of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) society. This puts the effectiveness of the society in question as earlier noted filmmaker Jahnu Barua and eminent cinematographer Santosh Sivan had also written to the authorities saying they did not want to be considered as members of the FTII society or its governing council.

Speaking to TOI, Joshi said she had written to the ministry three days back. “I do not want to be part of the FTII society after this cloud of negativity. When I had learnt about my nomination, I was looking forward to the experience as I would be able to share my experiences with the students. But what is the use of being on the society or in the governing council if the students are unhappy and dissatisfied?” she said.

Joshi, the recipient of the Special Jury Award at the National Film Awards, said she would have loved to be considered as a member of the society if the students were happy. “I am not at all political and I have no views on who has been selected in the society. But my heart goes out to the students who have been so dignified and have conducted a peaceful protest so far. It is commendable how they are trying to have a dialogue with the ministry. I am a person of art and all I know is that art cannot prosper in such a negative environment,” she said.

Meanwhile, the FTII students held a press conference at their campus on Sunday afternoon where they said that the I&B ministry, during their meeting on July 3, had promised them everything for the future but evaded all the core issues for which they are on a strike. “We went with a lot of hope but were disappointed with our interaction with the ministry officials and I&B minister Arun Jaitley. The minister could do little but offer assurances for the future. Our concerns are of the present. The concerns regarding the newly-appointed FTII society members were repeatedly evaded by the minister. We have no option but to continue with the strike,” said Vikas Urs, representative of the FTII students’ association.

The students released details of the communication between Jaitley and the delegation since the strike began. It comprised the court order against propaganda documentary filmmaker Anagha Ghaisas for not paying dues to another filmmaker.

In a statement, the students said the main issue of the delegation that met Jaitley was that a committee of experts be constituted to suggest norms and guidelines for setting up the FTII society, which would make such appointments diligent and transparent.

“Instead, the minister dwelt at great length on all that ailed the film institute. He stated his position as finance minister to assure the students that buildings and equipment would be upgraded. However, when it was brought to his notice that an institution embodies a vision, which the present FTII society was not in a position to provide, the minister indicated that if students persisted in their demand for reconstitution of the society, they might have to face the bleak prospect of shutdown and eventual privatization,” the statement read.

“The government has been kind to help us with more funds and infrastructural facilities, but they have provided no solution to the strike. We have been promised the status of Centre of National Excellence by an Act of Parliament now by various governments in power for the last 45 years but we are yet to see the implementation. More than that, we need right people in our society and governing council,” Urs said.

Members nominated in the FTII society

Alumni

Santosh Sivan, eminent cinematographer

Shailesh Gupta, cinematographer

Imo Singh, filmmaker

Rajkumar Hirani, filmmaker

Eight members chosen under the category of —Persons of eminence connected with films, television, education, journalism, literature, fine arts, dramatics and performing arts’

Vidya Balan, actress

Jahnu Barua, filmmaker

Pallavi Joshi, actress

Anagha Ghaisas, documentary filmmaker

Narendra Pathak, educationist and ABVP activist

Urmil Thapaliyal, theatre personality

Pranjal Saikia, actor

Rahul Solapurkar, actor