Kolkata, Oct. 27 -- Filmmaker Kamaleshwar Mukherjee, known for directing Bengali movies such as Meghe Dhaka Tara and Chander Pahar, was denied entry to the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) on Tuesday when he visited the campus to express solidarity with protesting students.
Stopped at the main gate, Mukherjee addressed the students. "Cinema breaks walls, but walls are being built now. Not allowing people to enter or speak amounts to a violation of democratic rights. The students' struggle is to protect democratic rights and constitutional dignity. I stand with them," he said.
Several filmmakers, theatre practitioners, academics and other prominent figures also visited SRFTI to express solidarity with the students but addressed them from outside the main gate.
Solidarity demonstrations were held at Jadavpur University and College Street as part of a nationwide protest called by the SRFTI Students' Union. The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Students' Body and Association, the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, and Aliah University also expressed support for the protesting students.
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah and filmmakers Payal Kapadia, Kanu Behl, Saeed Akhtar Mirza, Anand Patwardhan, Ashish Avikunthak and Jeo Baby have also expressed support for the students.
SRFTI Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera, meanwhile, alleged that a section of students was politicising the agitation with the support of external forces and disrupting academic activities.
"A few students, with the help of external forces, are driving the entire agenda and halting classes, even as many want academic activities to resume soon," Ajmera said in a statement.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.