CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress / ITDC News Bhopal: Actor Ali Fazal has reacted angrily to the post of Film & Television Institute of India, Pune for celebrating the win of its alumunus Payal Kapadia at the Cannes Film Festival.
At the gala, which concluded on Saturday, Payal Kapadia charted history by becoming the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award for “All We Imagine as Light”.
The official X (formerly Twitter) handle of FTII on Sunday (May 26) shared a few pictures of Payal and Chidanand Naik (who won the La Cinef Award for Best Short for her film Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know).
“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.”
“Taking credit for her success after the torture and harassment you forced upon her … have some shame seriously!!”
Ali Fazal shared the tweet of FTII and called out the institute for now taking credit for Payal’s win whereas they had taken action against her for holding a protest against the then President Gajendra Chauhan in 2015 when she was a student.
“Uhhh… please don’t. Just dont.”
The message from her alma mater FTII lauding her has garnered much attention. Many people had also commented on FTII tweet talking about the same.
“Taking credit for her success after the torture and harassment you forced upon her … have some shame seriously!!”
Another users also wrote: “Shame Shame Shame…. But for you FTII this would have happened so much earlier and so many more would have come our countries way…”
Back in 2015, Kapadia was on the warpath with the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
She had led a student protest against the appointment of actor-turned-politician Gajendra Chauhan, best known for his portrayal of Yudhisthir in the mega TV serial “Mahabharat”, as the chairman of the Pune-based premier institute.
According to the protesting students, Gajendra Chauhan did not match the vision and stature of past chairmen of the FTII governing council, and his appointment appeared ‘politically coloured.’
During the 139-day strike, the students also allegedly gheraoed and confined the then FTII Director Prashant Pathrabe in his office over some academic issues.
This had led to the police entering the campus and arresting some of the protesters.
Later, 35 students, including Kapadia, were booked under Indian Penal Code sections, including 143, 147, 149, 323, 353 and 506, dealing with offences, some of them non-bailable, related to unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation and rioting.
The chargesheet in the case was filed in 2016. The defence lawyer, representing the students, said the next court hearing is scheduled for June 26.
Oscar-winning Indian sound designer Resul Pookutty in a post on social media said the mainstream Indian film industry has nothing to do with this glory and they €œonly ‘looked at us as outcasts.”
“The only reason they won is also not because €œwe had inspiring teachers, there were some but not all,” he said.
He said, “Payal (Accused No.25) comes back from Cannes and next month, will have to go for her court case hearing that FTII lodged against her for striking against the appointment of Mr.Chouhan as the Chairman! Interesting isn’t it?!” Ameya Gore, one of the 35 students who were booked in the case, said that after the incident, majority of the students faced issues with scholarships and obtaining passports.
“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,” Gore said.
