Filmmakers Kundan Shah and Saeed Mirza Give Up Their Awards

Filmmakers Saeed Mirza and Kundan Shah declare their ‘award waapsi’ in protest of rising intolerance in India

Filmmakers Saeed Mirza and Kundan Shah declare their ‘award waapsi’ in protest of rising intolerance towards creativity in India (Photo: Twitter/@jatindes)

Film director Kundan Shah feels that it is important for him to return his national award for the film Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, because such a film would be impossible to make in the current ‘intolerant’ times. Saeed Akhtar Mirza, three time national award winner, has also decided to return the honour (for Mohan Joshi Haazir Ho, 1984) because he’s convinced that now is the right time for the film fraternity to fight together. The illustrious filmmakers were among 24 others, including prominent author Arundhati Roy, who declared that they will be returning their awards in protest of the rising intolerance in the country.

Not to speak out would be a crime. We are speaking out to reclaim the soul and spirit of this land.

<b>Saeed Mirza, Filmmaker</b>

This is the only National Award I have for <i>Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro</i> and I feel very sad to part with it. I owe this award to my alma mater FTII. There would’ve been no <i>JBDY</i> if I had not studied at FTII. We are not against the BJP, we have protested against the Congress too.

<b>Kundan Shah, Filmmaker</b>

The protesting filmmakers have detailed out their stand in a letter to the President of India and prime minister Modi. They refer to the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as FTII chairman as unfair, and also voice their dissatisfaction over not screening the recent film on beef ban, made by students of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

24 illustrious filmmakers and writers explain their stand in a letter to the President of India and prime minister Modi