Students protesting in FTTI are not criminals, he said.
Sreekanth A Nair
Padma awardee and veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal said on Monday that censorship should be abolished in India. Benegal was talking to media on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Panaji, Goa which began on 20 November.
He said, “In one word, I would say abolish censorship. I personally don’t believe in censorship… I am concerned about the imposition of censorship here, which has no real purpose except to come in the way of you expression. That’s the kind of censorship I oppose.”
His opinion came out when debates are going on about Censor Board shortening the kissing scenes of James Bond movie, Spectre.
“There is a certain amount of debate going on in the press about censorship and chairman and how it does not appeal to large number of people. This kind of thing does not make sense. It has no place,” he added.
Benegal also opined that the students who are protesting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTTI) against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as chairman are not criminals and the government should discuss the issues with them.
“The fact is students are students…they are not criminals. They are not crooks. They are a not anti-national,” he said.
“…they may be unhappy. They may think that things are not quite correct, but the fact is that (it is) for those in charge to deal with them in a way which makes sense. My own opinion is that you have to meet the students and talk to them,” Benegal added.
Benegal along with other filmmakers Shekhar Kapur, Prakash Jha and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra said that they don’t agree with those who return awards for protesting the increasing intolerance in the country.
“Obviously there is a lot of intolerance around. But national awards are given by the nation, not any political party. Those returning awards are subjecting themselves to the criticism that they are denigrating the nation. And there are several other ways of making one’s displeasure known “said Benegal.
Kapur said that “It is a personal thing. But I would not return my awards. I don’t see any sense in giving an award back once I have accepted it.”
“What is this intolerance they are talking about? There has always been violence between Shaivite and Vaishnavites, Shias and Sunnis, Buddhists and Hindus, Catholics and Protestants etc,” said Mehra.
Prakash Jha said that he respect those who returned awards. It’s their way of protest. But he didn’t do it. He would rather let his films show his rebellion.