FTII issue almost like a dead log: Jahnu Barua

Padma Bhushan awardee Jahnu Barua, who has resigned from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) society, says since the government is not ready to go back on its decision to change the institute's chairman, the issue is a "dead log".

"Government says it has no room for going back on their decision...it's almost like a dead log. I agree with the students and I also feel sad for them, I am concerned for their losses as they have been losing a lot in terms of the strike," Barua told IANS.

Ever since the government appointed BJP member Gajendra Chauhan, best remembered for his portrayal of 'Yudhishthir' in TV serial "Mahabharat", as the chairman of FTII -- an autonomous institute under the ministry of information and broadcasting -- students and some alumni, including Barua, have been protestin the decision. They have unanimously claimed that the appointment was politically motivated.

However, Barua, whose resignation came soon after actress Pallavi Joshi resigned from the FTII Society, has stressed that such institutes should be "headed by a visionary stalwart from that field".

"Everyone, including me, feels that this is not happening. So, obviously people will have reservations."

Calling the situation a "big mess", the multiple National Film Award winning filmmaker shared that he does not want to be a part of the FTII Society, and that an introspection into the matter must happen.