2008 batch gets new deadline to exit FTII

There are six diploma film projects that are in various stages of completion.

The “controversial decision” by the FTII director Prashant Pathrabe to conduct “pro-rata” assessment of students will prevail.

Of the total 14 diploma films for the 2008 batch, six remain incomplete. In August 2015, when the administration announced the pro-rata assessment in the middle of the students’ strike, it met with fierce opposition. The students had also gheroed Pathrabe and prevented him from leaving his office until midnight on August 16.

The matter was also looked into by the S M Khan committee, which said in its report that the pro-rata assessment of the 2008 batch was justified.
Although the students’ strike ended on October 29, the 2008 batch students were left guessing for a month as the administration kept mulling the future course.
The final decision in this regard was taken by Pathabe on Friday after a meeting with Film Wing faculty and 2008 batch students.

Confirming the developments, Kedarnath Awati, Dean (Films), told The Indian Express, “The pro-rata assessment of the 2008 batch was carried out by us some months ago. The students didn’t have any real objection to this, except the timing of the decision. The director has finally okayed the ‘pro-rata’ assessment for the 2008 now. This a special case due to the peculiar circumstances pertaining to this batch.”

He said that although the assessment had been okayed, the students won’t be prevented from completing their diploma films.

“We have prepared a schedule for the students to finish the incomplete diploma projects. Most of these projects will be finished by end of January 2016. A few, which still remain incomplete, will take another month for which Films Division has agreed to provide its facilities. This will help students finish their films speedily,” Awati said, adding that the although the students won’t be judged on these diploma films, the institute will support students if they want to take these films to festivals or competitions.

Ajayan Adat, a 2008 batch sound recording student, said they had been eagerly awaiting the decision on the issue for a month. “When the issue of pro-rata assessment of 2008 batch came up during the strike, we opposed it because the I&B Ministry was trying to pressure us to give up our demands using the issue as a tool. In our meetings with I&B officials and Minister of State Rajyavardhan Rathore, we had conveyed that the stopping of pro-rata assessment of 2008 batch wasn’t one of our demands. We accept it in the interest of the institute although it’s unjust for us as the most important project of our film education won’t be part of our final assessment,” said Adat.