Students hopeful of breakthrough in FTII impasse

As the impasse at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) over the appointment of actor Gajendra Chauhan as its head continues, protesting students continue to be hopeful that a breakthrough could emerge through dialogue.
At an interaction here, protesting students said that were only questioning the process of appointment as they felt that a person with vision and stature at the helm of the institute would be able to "inspire" them.
They added that exaggerated figures about the number of strikes had been reported in the media. Some of the students narrated how an atmosphere of fear and hostility prevailed around their campus adding that some cases had also been filed.

One of the students said that calls were being made to their family members by the authorities telling them that there was ward was doing things which were not right.
The students however appeared resolute in continuing with their protest.
"The students' association is apolitical. All we want is that the selection process should be such that the person who takes over at helm has an understanding of culture and cinema," said one of the students.
Another student said that they had constantly sought a dialogue and had also written several letters hoping that a solution would emerge.
He said the students were open if senior functionaries of the ministry could travel to Pune to assess the situation at FTII, so that a solution could be found.