Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah and acclaimed filmmaker Payal Kapadia have released video statements expressing solidarity with students of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) who are staging an indefinite protest on campus.
The agitation began after students objected to campus events and alleged attacks by organisations linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), including a September 27 clash involving the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat and an October 4 gathering by the Bangiya Hindu Jagran Manch.
Students have demanded the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera over security lapses and a lack of administrative accountability.
In a video statement shared on social media, Naseeruddin Shah criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the party of targeting individuals who question its policies and attempting to intimidate future generations of filmmakers. Shah stressed that young cinema students play a vital role in documenting and reflecting the social and political realities of the country.
Payal Kapadia, whose film All We Imagine as Light won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, stated that she was horrified by the campus developments. She noted that academic activities remain suspended, students have received notices to vacate their hostels, and disciplinary action has been directed at students rather than the perpetrators of the violence.
The SRFTI Students Union maintains that their protest will continue until the administration addresses safety concerns, guarantees an independent educational environment, and takes action against those responsible for the campus violence.
News Edit KV Raman
