Shabana Azmi said the decision of several artistes and filmmakers to return their awards is a "symbolic gesture that brings attention".
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi today said the decision of several artistes and filmmakers to return their awards in protest against "a culture of intolerance" is a "symbolic gesture" of bigger things to come.
"It's not an either or. Artistes returning awards will also reflect their concern in their work but making a film, writing a book takes time... Returning awards is a symbolic gesture that brings attention. Instead of damning them, read the writing on the wall," Ms Azmi tweeted.
Last week, prominent writers like Ganesh Vispute, Sambhajai Bhaga, Harishchandra Thorat, Pradnya Pawar, Milind Malshe, Yeshu Patil, Vasant Patankar, Urmila Pawar and Mukund Kale returned their various state honours, joining their counterparts across the country.
Leading filmmakers including Anand Patwardhan, Dipankar Banerjee, Paresh Kamdar, Nishtha Jain, Kirti Nakhwa, Harshavardhan Kulkarni, Hari Nair, Rakesh Sharma, Indraneel Lahiri, Lipika Singh Darai, Vikrant Pawar, Rakesh Shukla and Prateek Vats also announced that they were returning their National Awards and other honours.
The filmmakers also spoke out in support of the students of Pune's Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) who have been protesting against the government's choice of small-time TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as chairman.