FTII row not only about Gajendra Chauhan: Dibakar Banerjee

The protest of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) students has crossed 35 days now but is not only targeted at chairperson Gajendra Chauhan for "lack of qualifications" but against other crucial appointments too, says director Dibakar Banerjee.

"It's important for media and people to know that the issue is not only about Gajendra Chauhan. Do not personalize this issue. Mr. Chauhan and his appointment as chairman of FTII society is a side issue and only a part of the issue," Banerjee said at a press conference to support the students' viewpoint.

"The bigger concern is that along with Chauhan, there were other names that were added into the FTII society. All these members have something in their bio-data which make you feel that some sort of pressure is being created on an educational institute.

You feel that clearly there are better, more successful film professionals who can easily come into this society. And I think their names were also proposed, but ignoring those names and selecting these four members and chairman, sparks a doubt in our minds," he said.

Banerjee said he is seeking "further transparency" in the institute's working so that more Rajkumar Hiranis and Shatrughan Sinhas among others come out and better quality films are made from the industry.

The five concerned members of the FTII society having contentious links are Anagha Ghaisas, Shailesh Gupta, Narendra Pathak, Pranjal Saikia and Rahul Solapurkar, which students allege have links to BJP and RSS while also lacking the required credentials. Other than these people, Vidya Balan and Rajkumar Hirani are also part of the society.