THE FTII CONUNDRUM

The FTII was set up in 1961, to impart world-class training in filmmaking and television programming.

It has trained students from diverse background, charging about a tenth the fees of private institutes. From an original set of four courses, it now offers 11.

Notable alumni include Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Balu Mahendra, Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Resul Pookutty.

But over the past nine years, faculty vacancies, outdated equipment and stagnant infrastructure have caused student backlogs.

In 2011, the PK Nair Committee, appointed to suggest ways to revitalise FTII, said the backlog was a result of new courses being introduced without corresponding improvements in infrastructure.

A 2010 Hewitt Association report recommended that FTII introduce short-term courses at competitive rates and allow the institute to become self-reliant and upgrade its facilities.

The Geetha Krishnan committee, set up in 2000, recommended that FTII be handed over to the film industry as it was costing lakhs a year per student.

No one can saffronise technical aspects of filmmaking like lighting, camera, sound. But ideology can matter when it comes to narrative. The solution is simple. Meet the chairman designate. Positions shouldn’t get hardened to the extent that two parties can’t have a dialogue. SHYAM BENEGAL, former FTII chairman and National Award-winning filmmaker Government should issue grants without interfering in administration. FTII should be permitted to raise funds from outside sources. We had suggested a raised fee of Rs 1 lakh per student across all courses. FTII could offer scholarships to those who can’t afford the fee. PK NAIR, chairman of the eponymous committee that studied ways to revitalise FTII