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Chauhan a simpleton, should quit voluntarily: Adoor Gopalakrishnan
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By Preetha Nair New Delhi, July 10
Demanding that Gajendra
Singh Chauhan should voluntarily quit as the head of the Film and TV
institute of India (FTII), eminent filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan
remarked that he (Chauhan) did not understand why the students were
protesting against his appointment.
“He is a simpleton. He
doesn't even understand why the students are protesting. I have nothing
against him. But FTIIs need people who can inspire the students. It
cannot be run by people with no professional knowledge of cinema,Ââ€
Adoor, a former chairman of the Institute, where he studied in 1962,
told IANS in an interview.
He has under his belt the Dadasaheb
Phalke Award, 16 National Awards and the Padma Vibhushan, India's second
highest civilian honour. The veteran film maker said that ChauhanÂ’s
request to the students to give him a chance, pointed to his ignorance.
“I would request him to quit the post and by doing that, he will be doing the government a favour,†he asserted.
Chauhan
has reportedly said that he had 35 years' experience as an actor and
should be given a chance to prove himself as an administrator.
Adoor
feared that with "ignorant" people at the helm, the next step will be
to change the medium of instruction into Hindi."My fear is that they
will make Hindi the medium of instruction now. It will deprive thousands
of students from different parts of the country to access FTII ," he
said.
He also dismissed the allegations of a leftist ideology
working behind the protest. "It's absurd to call it as a leftist
protest. Then Satyajit Ray should be called a leftist," he said.
Adoor
has been actively involved in the protest since it erupted on June 12
after the information and broadcasting ministry appointed Chauhan to the
top job. The deadlock still continues as the students maintain that
Chauhan is a political appointee. Chauhan, who played Yudhishtir in the
TV series "Mahabharata", is a member of the BJP and has served as its
joint convener for culture.
Lashing out at Chauhan's appointment, Adoor also questioned his credentials for the job.
“Chauhan’s
work speaks for neither his qualifications nor for any vision which
could justify his appointment,†he said, adding he didn't wish to
politicise the issue but was only concerned about the future of the
institution.
Defending the students' protest, Adoor said the
government has violated the rules of appointments. “There is a clause
in the rules governing the FTII Society that non-official members have
to be men or women of eminence in the fields of cinema, literature,
theatre and the other arts,†Adoor argued.
The distinguished
filmmaker also expressed concern over reports of the governmentÂ’s move
to privatise FTII, arguing that this was not the answer to its problems.
“If privatisation is the answer to all problems, why don’t they
privatise the government? Why donÂ’t they let the Tatas or Birlas to run
the country,†he asked.
Describing the struggle as a cultural issue, Adoor said that it would affect cinema and the society as a whole.
“The
FTII has contributed hundreds of directors and technicians and has
played an important role in the Indian film industry. People with with
wrong ideas will be disastrous for the institution,†he added.
It
had earlier been reported that Adoor and Gulzar had been shortlisted
for the coveted post. Brushing aside such reports, Adoor said that his
choice of the chairperson would undoubtedly be Gulzar. “Gulzar will be
an undisputed choice for all. He is a perfect choice for the post,†he
said.
As a way out, Adoor also suggested that the government
reconstitute a committee of eminent people. “They shouldn't act like
autocrats. The government should listen to the people. They should take
advice from people of eminence,†he said.
(Preetha Nair can be contacted at [email protected])