Students from Bengaluru add voice to FTII protest

BENGALURU: Over 100 students from St Joseph's Arts and Science College joined activists on Saturday to protest the Centre's move to appoint TV actor-turned-politician Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), as the film institute students in Pune entered the 100th day of their agitation.
Students participated in a hunger strike and screened two movies, including Umesh Kulkarni's Girni (the grinding machine), before holding a discussion with FTII alumni.Kannada filmmaker Abhaya Simha and cinematographer Raghavendra also took part.
Students said they decided to show their solidarity as they felt the government was trying to impose cultural hegemony and prevent an institute from being liberal.
Father Richard Rego of the college said: "Students felt the need to express themselves, to make the government understand that there needs to be battle of ideas and expressions, which institutes like FTII allow and that government intervention will kill this spirit."