FTII Cancels Screening of Student Film on Dalit Folk Artists

The director claims it was due to threats from the ABVP.

A poster for Hora.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

The screening of a short documentary Hora on the Dailt folk artists group Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) in Pune was cancelled at the last minute by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) apparently because the filmmaker did not take prior permission from the institute for its public screening. The film was to be screened at the institute on Thursday.

However, director Harishankar Nachimuthu, who made the film as a student project, has come forth to say that the real reason behind the cancellation was due to pressure from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a right wing students’ group.

Here is 30 year-old Naichmuthu’s personal statement, shared on Facebook.

Hora is based on the life of Rupali Jadhav, a Dalit woman who is a member of the Kabir Kala Manch. KKM was involved in organizing the Elgar Parishad at Shaniwarwada on December 31, 2017 after which violence broke out in Bhima Koregaon. Members of the Manch have faced arrests on chargesof conspiring with Maoists.

FTII director Bhupendra Kainthola responded to Naichmuthu’s statement, saying “The allegation that FTII cancelled the screening under pressure from a particular organisation is so preposterous and baseless that replying to it would lend dignity to it.”

Later, in his own statement, Kainthola wrote, “H Nachimuthu did not give any prior requisition to book the Main Theatre for the screening of his documentary. Moreover the first screening of a student’s new documentary is normally only for internal viewing. Documentaries are generally screened for internal assessment only and are not scheduled for screening for general public unless otherwise decided. Public screenings of student projects are not allowed without permission, since various pre-requisites like CBFC certificate, logistics, availability of infrastructure etc. have to be met before outside public is invited for screenings.”

The FTII Students Association has also issued a statement, siding with Naichmuthu and saying “We question the concerned if an art school can function independently when such organisations can dictate the content of our films being made inside the campus.”

In August 2013, members of the ABVP had raised objection to a screening of Anand Patwardhan’s documentary Jai Bheem Comrade and a performance by KKM at the National Film Archive of India (NFAI), attacking five students of the FTII in the process.

(With Inputs From: Hindustan Times)