NEW DELHI: Students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), where a strike is currently on in protest over the chairman's appointment, have won 11 national awards and six international awards in the last three years, the government today said.
In a written reply to a member's question in Rajya Sabha, Information and Broadcasting Minister said that FTII students have won two national awards in 2012, five in 2013 and four such awards in 2014.
Gautam Nair won the 'Rajat Kamal' at the 59th National Awards while Renu Savant won a 'Special Mention' certificate in 2012. In 2013, Vikrant Pawar won two awards for 'Kaatal' while Kaushal Oza and Andrea Iannetta, too, figured among the winners.
In 2014, 'Chidiya Udh' got Pranjal Dua the 'Best Direction Award' while Gautam Nair got the 'Rajat Kamal' in the Best Audiography category. Kavin Jagtiani won a Rajat Kamal for cinematography at the 61st National Awards.
Amongst international awardees, Gaurav Shimpi won 'Special Jury Award' at the Kyoto International Student Film and Video Festival for 'Chubak'. Five other students -- Anurag Goswami, Andrea Ianetta, Vikrant Pawar, Sahil Bhardwaj and Manoj Nitharwal, too, won international awards.
Students at FTII have been boycotting classes since June 12 demanding the removal of newly-elected chairman Gajendra Chauhan, a BJP member best known for playing Yudhishtir in popular tele-serial 'Mahabharat', saying that he lacks "academic credentials, vision and stature" to head the premier institute.