Shyam Benegal photographed in Mumbai.
Panaji:
Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal said that political ideology does not play a role in the discharge of duties of the chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
He also questioned the students about their outrage against FTII chairman Gajendra Chauhan.
"The fact is that students are students. They are not criminals. They are not crooks. They are not anti-national. They may be unhappy. They may think that things are not quite correct. But those in charge should deal with them in a way which makes sense. My own opinion is that you have to meet the students and talk to them," said Mr Benegal.
Mr Benegal has received the Padma Bhushan award and the Dadasaheb Phalke award. He has also won several National Awards for his feature films.
FTII students staged a 139-day strike from June 12 this year to protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the institute's chairman. They claimed that the artiste was unfit for the position.
After the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stuck to its decision and did not cancel Mr Chauhan's appointment, the students withdrew the strike on October 29 but also insisted that their protests would continue.(Also Read: FTII Students Call Off Strike, Say Protests Will Continue)
Mr Benegal also questioned the accusation that political ideology plays a role in the functioning of the institute.
He also questioned the students about their outrage against FTII chairman Gajendra Chauhan.
"The fact is that students are students. They are not criminals. They are not crooks. They are not anti-national. They may be unhappy. They may think that things are not quite correct. But those in charge should deal with them in a way which makes sense. My own opinion is that you have to meet the students and talk to them," said Mr Benegal.
Mr Benegal has received the Padma Bhushan award and the Dadasaheb Phalke award. He has also won several National Awards for his feature films.
FTII students staged a 139-day strike from June 12 this year to protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the institute's chairman. They claimed that the artiste was unfit for the position.
After the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stuck to its decision and did not cancel Mr Chauhan's appointment, the students withdrew the strike on October 29 but also insisted that their protests would continue.(Also Read: FTII Students Call Off Strike, Say Protests Will Continue)
Mr Benegal also questioned the accusation that political ideology plays a role in the functioning of the institute.
