24 more film makers return their awards protesting intolerance

The spate of filmmakers giving back their awards continues, on Thursday 24 film makers decided to give back the awards won protesting rising intolerance and the governments interference in institutions like the FIlm and Television Institute of India (FTII). Chief among them were Directors like Kundan Shah who directed the iconic dark comedy Jaane bhi do Yaaro and Saeed Mirza.

In a press conference held in Mumbai Shah and other film makers announced their decision to give back their awards to protest the 'rising intolerance'. Last week 12 film makers that included Dibakar Bannerjee and Anand Patwardhan announced their decision to return the awards that the state had bestowed on them.

Shah said that his film Jaane bhi do Yaaro cannot be made now under the current atmosphere. " Forget making the film. We are afraid of speaking the truth now."said Shah.

The Director said that the word intolerance was being loosely brandied about and added that the situation had become much worse. " This is not intolerance but worse than that this is torture, there is great suffering...Modi will come and go after 5 years but the situation in the country could be damaged for years to come."said Shah who also took offence to Finance Minister Arun jaitley's statement saying there was intolerance against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. " When you go home how do you face your wife and your children after making such statements, questioned Shah.

Referring to statements of Anupam Kher, Hema Malini and Paresh Rawal who had criticised the film makers for returning their awards, Shah said, " Even their opinions would change once more such incidents (of violence) happen."

Well Known Film Maker Saeed Mirza who got a National award for Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho (1984) and Naseem (1996) said that it was not right to criticize them as they had criticized past governments too. " I have questioned all governments in the past too. However currently the situation has worsened."said Mirza.

Referring to comments made by Yogi Adityanand and Giriraj Singh, the film makers said, " These are clearly hate mongering, these are unconstitutional statements."

While there were only around half a dozen film makers present to return their awards, others had given their statements and pledged to return their awards in written statements. Some of them like Amitabh Chakraborty wrote, " The previous government stole our money and this one will steal our constitution. Both of them have scammed us. Let us all peacefully stand up to the tryanny of the elected."