With students of Film and Television Institute Of India in no mood to compromise, the strike is still on. And looking at what the Government’s various mouthpieces (people, sites, channels) are shouting, this seems to be a clear cut strategy.

First, they can’t contest the fact that Gajendra Chauhan is not really a credential face for the FTII.

SO —> Second, since that’s not working and we can’t take control of the institute, let’s shut it down.

WHY? —-> Third, FTII is the heaven for drugs and debauchery. There is no focus on studies and the course. Anonymous posts are being circulated.

HOW? —> Fourth, so the Government is wasting “YOUR” tax money in a film institute where “naxalites and anti-government” people are having fun. It just doesn’t make any sense, right? Remember the stress on “your”. Yes, “your” tax money should be spent on MP/MLAs subsidised canteens and big statues.

Aha, what coincidence. And this is coming out from every mouthpiece. A pied piper says so, everyone repeats it.

At its core is a stupid mindset that still thinks “engineering” is the only reason that mankind exists. So Government should spend money on IITs only. And 100 other universities where nobody smokes or drinks or have never even heard of any kind smoking stuff. And yes, we must spend money on big big statues that will save us from every disaster.

Since art (and especially films which have the widest reach) is one of the strongest voice of dissent, why spend money on people who will raise their voice against us? Why feed them? And what is the use of a camera anyway, other than clicking a selfie, right? For that you don’t need to run a film institute.

Aha, myopia at its worst.

Not surprising that the few voices which are supporting the idea that FTII should be privatised are the ones who run their own private institutes who charge such exorbitant fees that most can’t even afford. In such a scenario, FTII/SRFTII is the only hope for many who want to get into arts. In terms of quality, almuni and the credential, those private institutes are light years behind FTII. It’s not only a premiere institute in the country, but is easily among the best in the world. It would be a really sad scenario if just for selfish political mileage the institute will be harmed in anyway.

Also, those who are claiming that since bollywood makes so much money, why should Governement run it. Well, FTII is NOT bollywood. Indian Cinema is NOT just bollywood. Get up from your troll account, google, learn what it is about.

As far as the claims about FTII gone to dogs in last 10 years, so it should be shut down, well, we have tried to compile the list of those “dogs” who have got some kind of national/international claim in the last few years. We are sure this is not a complete list, and we must be missing many here. Do keep adding the names in the comments section. And remember, this is just last 10 year list.

It takes years to build an institute of such repute. It takes one bad decision to kill it all.

2004 Nice Girls – by Nimisha Pandey Best Documentary Film Award – 0110 Digital Film Festival, New Delhi, 2004 Ek Aakash – by Sudhakar Reddy Special Mention Award – 3rd International Film Festival, Argentina, Special Jury Award, 51st National Film Award 2003 Baba Pagla – by Ramesh Birajdar Best Audiography, 51st National Film Award 2003 Mangali – by Shilpi Das Gupta Special Mention for Innovative Direction, 51st National Film Award 2003

2005 Girni – by Umesh Kulkarni Cinematography by Manoj Lobo Best Short Film Award, Govt. of Maharashtra, 2005 Best Non-Feature Film, 52nd National Film Awards 2004 Best Cinematography Award, 52nd National Film Awards 2004 Dwijaa – by Pankaj Purandare Best Film on Social Issues, 52nd National Film Awards 2004 Kshya Tra Ghya – by Amit Dutta Audiography by Vivek Special Jury Mention, 52nd National Film Awards 2004 Best Audiography Award, 52nd National Film Awards 2004 Cradle Song – by Nimisha Pandey 1) Best Short Fiction Film, 52nd National Film Awards 2004 Saanjh – by Jasmine Kaur 1) Best Film on Family Welfare, 52nd National Film Awards 2004 Sukravarsh Aakash – by Emmanuel Palo 1) First Prize of EADS AIRAET, Germany, 2005 Amachi Kasauti – by Rrihu Laha 1) Best TV Documentary, IBDA Awards, Dubai 2) Best Student Film, INR 10,000

2006 Closer – by Anmol Bhave ‘Rajat Kamal’ Award for Best Audiography, 53rd National Film Awards, 2005 Voices Across The Ocean – by Ganesh Gaikwad ‘Swarna Kamal’ Award for Best Direction, 53rd National Film Awards, 2005 Parsiwada Tarapore Present Day – by Paramvir Singh ‘Rajat Kamal’ Award for Best Cinematography, 53rd National Film Awards, 2005 Chabiwali Pocket Watch – by Vibhu Puri Anay Goswamy Best Feature at IBDA Awards, Dubai 2005 Special Kodak Award for the director at the 13th International Film School Festival, Poland Special Jury Award for the director Vibhu Puri, 53rd National Film Awards, 2006 Winner, Asia Pacific Kodak Filmschool Competition, 2006 Best Cinematography award in the ‘Emerging Filmmakers’ section, Cannes Film Festival:

2007 Kramasha – by Amit Dutta 2009 Kramasha – by Savita Singh Kramasha – by Ajit Singh Rathore 2007 “GOLD MIKELDI FOR FICTION” by the International Jury of the 49th edition of the Bilbao International Festival of Documentary and Short Films, Spain 2008 Golden Conch, MIFF, 2008 2009 Rajat Kamal and cash prize of Rs. 50,000/- for Best Cinematography in 55th National Awards Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/- for Best Audiography in 55th National Awards Bhanga Ghara, Nilanjan Datta Silver Lotus, Best film on Environment, 55th National Film Awards (Awarded in 2009)

2008 Chasing Angelina Jolie – by Saurav Dey Best Student Documentary (Golden Trophy), Indian Documentary Producers Association, Mumbai Udedh Bun – by Siddhartha Sinha Silver Bear, 58th Berlin International Film Festival, Berlin, 2008 Rajat Kamal and Cash Prize of Rs. 50,000/- to the Director for Best Short Fiction in 55th National Awards Haravalele Indradhanushya – by Dhiraj Meshram 1) Silver Conch, MIFF, 2008 2) Best Short Fiction Film (Golden Trophy) and Best Screenplay (Silver Trophy), Indian Documentary Producers Association, Mumbai. Undertakers – by Emmanuel Palo Silver Conch, MIFF, 2008 Three of Us – by Umesh Kulkarni Shariqua Badar Khan Cameraperson 2008: Grand Prix Grimstad , 2500 Euro,Norwegian Short Film Festival Best Documentary and Trophy, 16th Curtas Vila Do Conde International Film Festival, Portugal. Best Documentary Award, Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival – Curta Cinema 2008 Grand jury prize, signe de nuit, France PATTON award for Best Indian Film, 6th Kalpanirjhar International Short Fiction Film Festival, Kolkata. 2009: 6th Competitive We Care Filmfest 2009, New Delhi First Prize (Mentally Challenged Category) 2010: Best Direction – SWARNA Kamal and Rs 1,00,000/- to the Director, 56th National Awards 2008 Best Cinematography – Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/- and Adlabs Mumbai, 56th National Awards 2008 Narmeen – by Dipti Gogna HBO Short Film Competition Jury Award and cash prize of $2,500, 5th South Asian International Film Festival 2008, New York. Best Director Award of a cash prize – $1,000, Whistling Woods International Students Film Competition Live Action (Short Film) During 7th Pune International Film Festival, Pune. Jury Award for Best Short Film at the 7th annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2009: Gold Award for ‘Excellence in Short Fiction’ (Professional category) in Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA) Best Short Film Award at ‘Bollywood and beyond’ Indian Film Festival, Stuttgart, Germany 09 Jury Special Mention Award for Section – “Children World” in 7th edition of the International Short Festival ‘Salento Finibus Terraein’, Italy. Gold Award for ‘Excellence in Sound Design’ (Fiction) in Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA) – Manik Batra 2010 Best Music Direction Award – Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/-, 56th National Awards 2008 – Vipin Mishra PATTON AWARD for the Best Indian entry 8th Kalpanirjhar International Short Fiction Film Festival, Kolkata – November 1 to 5, 2010

2009 Dhin Tak Dha – Saikat Ray 1) Gold Award for ‘Excellence in Editing’ (Fiction) in Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA). Swayambhu Sen Foresees his End – by Debashish Medhekar 1) Certificate for Merit for Best Short Fiction’ (under 30 minute) in Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA). In Transit – by Arunima Sharma 1) ‘Silver Award’ for ‘Best Documentary’ (30 min.) in Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA) Who Thought of the Little Boy – Devendra Golatkar 1) Gold Award for ‘Excellence in Cinematography’ in Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA) Take Off – by Collin D’Cunha Koenig Ludwig Trophy for Best Beer Advertisement, Munich 2009 Echoes of Silence – by Zubin Garg – Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/- for Best Music Direction Award in 55th National Awards Aadmi ki Aurat Aur Anya Kahaniyan (The Man’s Woman and Other Stories) – by Amit Dutta 1) Special Mention in the competition section of Horizon (Orizzonti Section) – 66th Venice International Film Festival held from 2nd to 12th September, 2009 Turbulence – Cinematography by Rangoli Agarwal Best Film / TV Feature – Ibda’a Awards, Dubai, 2009 Gaarud – Umesh Kulkarni Deepu S. Unni, Cameraman Lipika Singh Darai Sound PATTON award for Best Indian Film, 7th Kalpanirjhar International Short Fiction Film Festival, Kolkata. Sharing Best Film : Short Fiction (Under 30)- Gold, Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA) 2009, Mumbai 2010 Golden Conch (cash award of Rs. 3 Lakh/-, MIFF, 2010) Sharing Best Film : Short Fiction (Under 30)- Gold, Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA) 2009, Mumbai Best Cinematography – Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/- and Adlabs, Mumbai – 57th National Awards 2009. Best Audiography for Re-recordist (final mixed track) – Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/-. – 57th National Awards 2009 Thread – Lilium Leonard Best Short Film Rs. 25,000/- 8th Third Eye Asian Film Festival, Mumbai

2010 The Watch Clinic / Ghadyalancha Dawakhana – by Vikrant Pawar Best Film Award of a cash prize – $2,000, at Whistling Woods International Students Film Competition Live Action (Short Film) during 8th Pune International Film Festival, Pune – 7th to 14th Jan. 2010 2011 Best Film for 1st Pune Shot Film Festival 2011 Certificate – Special Mention for 17th International Children’s Film Festival – Golden Elephant, Mumbai 2011 Trip – by Emmanuel Palo Best Scientific Film – Rajat Kamal and Cash Prize of Rs. 50,000/- each to the Producer and Director, 56th National Awards 2008 Stations – by Emmanuel Palo Manoj Kannoth, Editor Short Fiction Film – Rajat Kamal and Cash Prize of Rs. 50,000/- each to the Producer and Director, 56th National Awards 2008 Best Editing – Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/-, 56th National Awards 2008 When This Man Dies – Jayakrishna Gummadi, Cameraman Best Cinematography – Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/- and Filmlab, Mumbai, 56th National Awards 2008 Ekti Kaktaliyo Golpo – Tathagata Singha Sharing Best Debut Non-feature Film of a director – Rajat Kamal and Cash Prize of Rs. 37,500/- each to the Producer and Director. – 57th National Awards 2009. Vaishnav Jan Toh…. – Kaushal Oza Sharing Best Debut Non-feature Film of a director – Rajat Kamal and Cash Prize of Rs. 37,500/- each to the Producer and Director. – 57th National Awards 2009. Best Student Film : Short Fiction – Gold – Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA) 2009, Mumbai Vilay – Umesh Kulkarni Nitika Bhagat, Cameraman Best film award in the 14th Thai Short Film and Video Festival, Thailand held on August 2010. Special Mention – Certificate only – 57th National Awards 2009. Reflections – Swati Khatri Special mention of the Jury – 8th Kalpanirjhar International Short Fiction Film Festival, Kolkata – November 1 to 5, 2010 The Light and her Shadows – Avinash Arun Best Cinematography – Short Fiction – Gold, Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA) 2009, Mumbai Chaatak (Waiting for Rain) – Reema Borah Best Film : Short Fiction (Over 30) – Special Mention – Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA) 2009, Mumbai

2011 Come and See (playback) – Tathagata Singha Indo Canada Student Innovation Award 2011 (ICSIA), Mumbai Shyam Raat Seher – Arunima Sharma Murli G., Cameraman Best Direction award with Swarna Kamal and cash prize of ` 1,50,000/- 58th National Film Awards Best Cinematography award with Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/- each to the processing laboratory – Film Lab, Mumbai – 58th National Film Awards 2010. Kal 15 August Dukan Band Rahegi – Pratik Vats Best Short Fiction award with Rajat Kamal and Cash Prize of Rs. 50,000/- each to the Producer and Director – 58th National Film Awards 2010 Urnanaabh – Zalina Gamat Jigmet Wangchuk, Cameraman Silver Trophy for ‘Excellence in Short Fiction’ (Student category) – IDPA Awards 2010 Kodak Film School Cinematography National Competition 2011 Airawat – Renu Savant Special Jury Mention in 4th International Short and Documentary Film Festival of Kerala 11. Special Mention Certificate only for 59th National Awards in 2011 Blue Palace – Mahavir Sabannavar, Audiographer Best Sound Design Award – NO LIMITS FILM FESTIVAL, Sheffield, UK Memories – Ms. Gayatri Joshi Silver Trophy for ‘Excellence in Animation’ (Student) – IDPA Awards 2010 Utsav – Animation Student group project Special Jury Mention – IDPA Awards 2010 1, 2 – Prantik Basu Gautam Nair, Audiographer PATTON award for Best Indian Film, 9th Kalpanirjhar International Short Fiction Film Festival, Kolkata Technical Awards in Camera Gold and Sound Silver 4th Cut.In Students’ Video Festival, Mumbai 2011 2012 Indian Jury Award i.e. Cash Award of Rs. 2,50,000/- in the Indian Competition in the 12th Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films (MIFF -2012) Best Audiography for with Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/- for 59th National Awards in 2011 Open Café v2.5 – Naveen Padmanabhan Sylvester Fonseca, Cinematographer Gold Award in Documentary category and for Sound Gold and Camera Silver in Technical Awards in 4th Cut In Students’ Video Festival, Mumbai 2011 Best Cinematography for Whistling Woods International Student Film Competition (a section of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF), 2012

2012 Shankarnama – Nikhil Mullay Best Sound for Whistling Woods International Student Film Competition (a section of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF), 2012 Rizwan – Deepti Khurana Cinematographer – Akash Agrawal Special Jury Mention at 5th International Short and Documentary Film Festival of Kerala held from 8th to 12th June 2012 Cinematography award in the Diploma Section in Fujifilm – Indradhanush Film School Competition 2012 Prabhat Nagari Film 1 – Aman Wadhan Cinematographer – Srijit Basu Special mention in Student Non fiction category for Prabhat Nagari in 11th IDPA award in Mumbai (2015) Cinematography award in the Fujifilm – Indradhanush Film School Competition 2012 Kaun Kamleshwar – Camera: – Rangoli Agrawal Dir: Anurag Goswami specially acknowledged films by the jury members in the Fujifilm – Indradhanush Film School Competition 2012 Satyajit Ray Foundation’s short film award, held in conjunction with London Indian Film Festival, 2013. Moon Stars Lovers – Cinematographer: G. Balakrishna Sharma specially acknowledged films by the jury members in the Fujifilm – Indradhanush Film School Competition 2012 Afterglow – Kaushal Oza Patton Award for the Best Indian Film at 10th Kalpanirjhar International Short Fiction Film Festival, Kolkata held from November 1 to 5, 2012. BEST FILM ON FAMILY VALUES award with RAJAT KAMAL and Rs. 50,000/- each to the Director and Producer – 60th National Film Awards Chumbak – Gaurav Shimpi Special Jury Award in the Kyoto International Student Film and Video Festival scheduled from 17th to 23rd November 2012. The Elephant, From the Bridge (Dir Abhilash Vijayan) 2nd Best Documentary film, 3rd Best Director and 2nd Best Editor award in 1st Smita Patil Short Documentary Competition, 2012. 11 Minutes (Dir Karma Takapa) Best Director award in 1st Smita Patil Short Documentary Competition, 2012.

2013 Allah is Great – Dir. Andrea Lannetta Special Jury Mention – Coming Stars Panorama in 5th Jaipur International Film Festival 2013 SPECIAL MENTION – 60th National Film Awards 2nd Best Film in Dubai International Film Festival (Shorts Section) with a prize money of AED 25,000. Kaatal – Dir. Vikrant Pawar Abhimanyu Dange, Cameraman Kaatal – Dilip Kumar Ahirwar, Sound BEST SHORT FICTION award comprising RAJAT KAMAL and Rs. 50,000/- cash each to both Director and Producer (FTII) – 60th National Film Awards Best Student Film Award in International Film Festival of Fiji 2013. BEST DIRECTION with SWARNA KAMAL and Rs.1,50,000/- cash – 60th National Film Awards Best Direction in Fiction in 1st NSFA & SFFI, 2013. BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY award with RAJAT KAMAL and Rs. 50,000/- cash each to cameraman and laboratory (Cash Component to be shared between films) 2014: Best Short Fiction film with Golden Conch trophy and Rs. 500,000 cash prize (Rs 300,000 for the Director and Rs 200,000 for the producer – FTII) in 13th Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short & Animation Films (MIFF) 3rd to 9th February 2014. Best Sound Recordist with Rs. 1,00,000/- and certificate in 13th Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short & Animation Films (MIFF) 3rd to 9th February 2014. After Glow – Dir. Kaushal Oza BEST FILM ON FAMILY VALUES award with RAJAT KAMAL and Rs. 50,000/- each to the Director and Producer – 60th National Film Awards Man from Maldeo – Dir. Ruchir Arun Special Jury Award in Non-Fiction in 1st NSFA & SFFI, 2013. The Donkey Fair – Dir. Rakesh Shukla Best Documentary award in 3rd Smita Patil International Film Festival 2014 organized by Arogya Sena Co-organizer SYS.with prize rs10,000/- and certificate Best Cinematography in Non-Fiction in 1st NSFA & SFFI, 2013 2015: Best Documentary award in 3rd Smita Patil International Film Festival 2014 organized by Arogya Sena Co-organizer SYS.with prize rs10,000/- and certificate. The Drowning Song – Dir. Sandhya Daisy Sundaram Best Music Video in 6th International Documentary and Short Film Festival in Kerala. Black O’ Whyte – Dir. Jithindas C.H. and Sibin Anto M. Best Animation Film in 6th International Documentary and Short Film Festival in Kerala Best Director for animation award in 2nd National Students Film Awards at SRFTI, Kolkata .27th feb to 3rd march 2014. Kaun Kamleshwar – Dir. Anurag Goswami Satyajit Ray Foundation’s short film award, held in conjunction with London Indian Film Festival, 2013. Dwand – Dir Abhilash Vijayan Sahil Bhardwaj, Camera Best Short Film in Ladakh International Film Festival 2013. Best Cinematography Award in 13th International Student Film Festival Písek 2013, Czech Republic. Firdous – Dir. Tushar More Best Cinematography Award in Kodak India Film School Competition 2013. 2015: Special mention in Student fiction category for Firdous in 11th IDPA award in Mumbai Best Direction Category in Samyak Short Film Festival, Pune. That Elephant from the Bridge – Dir. Abhilash Vijayan) Documentary Gold at Cut.In National Student Film Festival 2013 at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Best Documentary Award at Kolhapur International Film festival, 2013.

2014 Chidiya Udh – Dir. Pranjal Dua Gautam Nair Audiographer BEST DIRECTION award with SWARNA KAMAL and Rs.1,50,000/- cash – 61st National Film Awards 2013 BEST AUDIOGRAPHY award with RAJAT KAMAL and Rs. 50,000/- cash – 61st National Film Awards 2013 Mandrake! Mandrake! – Dir. Ruchir Arun Kavin Jagtiani, Cameraman Special Mention Fiction (10 to 30 min) in 2nd National Students Film Awards at SRFTI, Kolkata 27th feb to 3rd march 2014 BEST SHORT FICTION award comprising RAJAT KAMAL and Rs. 50,000/- cash each to both Director and Producer (Director, FTII) – 61st National Film Awards 2013 2015: Silver medal in Student Fiction category for Mandrake Mandrake in 11th IDPA award in Mumbai BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY award with RAJAT KAMAL and Rs. 50,000/- cash each to cameraman and laboratory Things Missing – Karan Singh, Editor (TV course film, dir : Samar Ali Warsi) Best Editing Non-fiction (shared) in 2nd National Students Film Awards at SRFTI, Kolkata .27th feb to 3rd march 2014. Makara – Susmit Bob Nath, Sound (dir. Prantik Narayan Basu) Best Sound Design Fiction (10 to 30 min) in 2nd National Students Film Awards at SRFTI, Kolkata 27th feb to 3rd march 2014 Sonyacha Amba – Dir. Govind Raju Specail Award for IDPA Award for the best student film with IDPA Trophy and Rs. 1,00,000/-in 13th Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short & Animation Films (MIFF) 3rd to 9th February 2014. Makhi – Dir. Umesh Kulkarni Best Short Film – Fiction in SIGNS 2014 – John Abraham National Awards 28th May to 1st June 2014 Aisa Nahin Hua Tha Tahira –

Dir. Rajula Shah Cinema Experimenta – Fiction in SIGNS 2014 – John Abraham National Awards 28th May to 1st June 2014 Thutse Kyume – Dir. Takapa Karma Jury Special Mention – Fiction in SIGNS 2014 – John Abraham National Awards 28th May to 1st June 2014 A Dream Animal – Dir. Sanyukta Sharma Pinak Agte Susmit Bobnath Jury Special Mention – Fiction in SIGNS 2014 – John Abraham National Awards 28th May to 1st June 2014 2015: Best Director for A dream Animal in 3rd NSFA pune Best Audiography for A dream Animal in 3rd NSFA Pune Best Sound Design for A dream Animal in 3rd NSFA, Pune Mukhabir – Manoj Nitharwal Best Student Film Award in International Film Festival of Fiji 18th to 28th July 2014. Roots -Antara Anand, Film ‘Roots’ – 2nd Prize (Shared) – Non Fiction Prize consists of – A cheque of Rs. 15000/-, Certificate & a Memento. Glass-Naveen Padmanabha Film ‘GLASS’ – 1st Prize – Fiction Prize consists of – A cheque of Rs. 20000/-, Certificate & a Memento. Sahara Rider -Devendra Meher Film ‘Sahara Rider’ – 2nd Prize (Shared) – Non Fiction Prize consists of – A cheque of Rs. 15000/-, Certificate & a Memento.

2015 Renu Savant- Aaranyak Vijay Kalmakar Best Short Fiction Film award at Asian Film FestivalThird Eye Mumbai , 2015. Best Film Aaranyak in 3rd NSFA Pune Best Direction for Aaranyak in 62nd National film Award in non feature film category. . Swarna Kamal and 1.5lakh cash prize Best Editor for Aaranyak in 3rd NSFA pune Song we Wrote- Sandhya sundaram BEST AUDIOGRAPHY category Audiographer :- Sumit Kuhate in live action competition in 13th Pune internation Film Festival. Tushar Kharalkar – Sadabahar Brass Band (Dir: Tushar More) Best Art and Production Design for Sadabahar Brass Band in 3rd NSFA in pune Return to innocence – Dir: Deepanjan Laha Gold medal in Student animation category for Return to Innocence in 11th IDPA award in Mumbai Seek & Hide, Manoj Nitharwal Special mention with certificate in 62nd National film award in non feature film category for Seek and Hide. New York Indian Film Festival (OUTSIDE) Best short film