Gajendra Chauhan, ex-chairman of FTII, praised filmmaker Payal Kapadia's Cannes win, which made Vijay Varma laugh
Vijay Varma, a graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), found humor in a recent statement by the institute's former chairman, Gajendra Chauhan. Chauhan expressed pride in filmmaker Payal Kapadia's Cannes win for her film "All We Imagine As Light," despite Kapadia being one of the students who protested against his appointment in 2015.
Kapadia was among the students who objected to Chauhan's chairmanship of FTII in Pune. Chauhan's congratulatory remarks caused a stir online, prompting Vijay Varma to mockingly question if Chauhan felt insulted.
During the protest, Kapadia and her peers boycotted classes for 139 days, leading to disciplinary action. She was even named in a complaint for alleged detention. Chauhan, who served as chairman from January 7, 2016, to March 2, 2017, defended himself, stating that the protest was not directed at him but at the administration.
Chauhan emphasized his government-appointed position and claimed unrecognized contributions to FTII. Despite Kapadia's involvement in the protest, Chauhan remarked on her silence regarding him, suggesting the focus was on the institute's management.
Payal Kapadia made history by winning the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first Indian filmmaker to do so. Her film, featuring Divya Prabha, Kani Kusruti, and others, was celebrated for its Malayalam-Hindi narrative.
Kapadia's success highlighted the journey of a filmmaker who once protested against the very institution now acknowledging her achievement. The incident reignited discussions about the significance of student activism and the complexities within educational institutions like FTII.
Read Exclusive COVID-19 Coronavirus News updates, at MyNation.