Satish Bahadur,founder of film appreciation course at FTII,dies

“He started as a professor of mathematics in Agra,but had keen interest in music,poetry,painting and literature. One of the most significant aspects of his personality was his devotion and his values which remained with him throughout his life. I have been his successor,conducting the film appreciation course for the past 25 years. The values he inculcated as the founder of the course continue to guide us,” said Suresh Chabria,professor,film Appreciation,external faculty,FTII.

Born in 1925,Bahadur’s teaching career spanned over four decades. As one of the founding teachers of the FTII,he played a crucial role in shaping the policies and vision of the Institute. Even today,he is held in high esteem by his students,some of whom are luminaries of the Indian cinema. “He was responsible for getting me into the FTII. And right from day one,he became the guiding light in my life. Like a music teacher who explains the intricacies of taal and laya to his students,he would unveil countless aspects of films for us. Unlike many teachers who overshadow their students,he had the knack to bring the best out of his students. In fact,he was the one who started the concept of film diary amongst FTII students. I have this habit of calling the old,good and late faculty of the institute,the ghost faculty. Now,he belongs to that and sitting up there,he will continue to guide his students,” said Arun Khopkar,filmmaker and student of Bahadur.

“He taught me patience,” said Kumar Shahani,Bahadur’s student and a faculty at the FTII.

“With his demise,I feel disabled. He was the first one to understand the importance of film appreciation as a part of the syllabus in addition to the technicalities of filmmaking. The credit of developing film appreciation as a subject in India goes to him. He had two dreams,one to teach film appreciation to teachers and the second to write a book. While the first one remained incomplete,the book he wrote will be published shortly,” said P K Nair,Bahadur’s close colleague and former director,NFAI.

Bahadur is survived by his wife,a daughter and a son.