FTII row: Students disrupt screening to assess ‘incomplete’ films

Last week, Pathrabe had announced the decision to assess the 13 diploma films made by 50-odd students of the 2008 batch on “as is where is” basis saying that “it can’t be a matter of pride for any institute that students are spending so many years without completing their courses”.

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The students have opposed this move saying that of the 13, as many as six films are incomplete with some having just been shot after obtaining permission from the Academic Council for the same. They also argued that it would be “ridiculous” to judge and grade students based on films which are yet to be edited or are devoid of audio.

Notwithstanding the opposition from the students and also internal doubts raised by the faculty, the administration went ahead with the plan with assessing the films. At about 2 pm, the screening of the diploma films started with “Letters From Korley” directed by Aman Wadhan (2008 batch, direction) in the main theatre but it had to be stopped immediately as students started beating drums outside the auditorium.

Acting Dean (Film) Kedarnath Awati stopped the screening and returned to his office. Unsure of what they were supposed to do, various faculty members too left the auditorium after some time. The faculty members then went to meet Pathrabe and after some time the student representatives too were invited to participate in the meeting.

Emerging from the meeting, a faculty member said that as no mutually agreeable situation could be arrived, the assessment was put on hold for two days and it was decided that the faculty, dean and the director would meet on Tuesday. The decision regarding the future course of action will be decided on Wednesday, they said.

Ajayan Adat, a student of sound recording and sound design, said that in the meeting, the faculty members conveyed their displeasure towards the way the assessment was being carried out. They also conveyed that they were not consulted by the director before taking the decision of assessing the incomplete films.

“We will decide on a course of action in a general body meeting of students to be held tonight. We are sure that the action they are taking is not academic and that it’s just another way to arm-twist the students into giving up their just demand and withdrawing the strike. However, I am hopeful that the faculty members will take the right stance and will convey to the administration that they will not be party to this unjust and illegal assessment,” said Adat.
‘We don’t want to do this… but ordered to do this’

After the screening of diploma film was halted in the main theatre, a group of students entered the auditorium and asked the faculty members to speak up on what their views were about the assessment of incomplete films.

One of the heads of department who was present there said, “We don’t want to do this, but we have been ordered to do it. This process is being done in an extreme hurry, it shouldn’t be done like this. These are very serious exercises and should be done with proper planning. I have expressed these views but we have been ordered to go ahead with assessments.”