Filmmakers like Shyam Benegal, Shekhar Kapur, Prakash Jha speak out against 'Award Wapsi'

PANAJI: Distinguished filmmakers including Shyam Benegal and Shekhar Kapur have said that they do not agree with those returning their awards to protest the alleged increase in intolerance in the country under the Narendra Modi government.

It is important not to confuse national awards with political honours, said Benegal, recipient of the Padma Bhushan and considered among the most influential directors of his generation.

Benegal and Kapur, along with fellow invitees Prakash Jha and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, spoke to ET on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India in Goa on Sunday.

“Obviously there is a lot of intolerance around. But national awards are given by the nation, not any political party,” said Benegal. “Those returning awards are subjecting themselves to the criticism that they are denigrating the nation. And there are several other ways of making one’s displeasure known,” he said.

Kapur, also a delegate at the Film Bazaar organised by the National Film Development Corporation as part of the film festival, said he did not sense “any state sponsored intolerance in the country”.

“It is a personal thing. But I would not return my awards. I don’t see any sense in giving an award back once I have accepted it,” said Kapur, who has directed films in India as well as abroad.

The comments appeared to give strength to a counter view that has emerged after filmmakers including Saeed Mirza, Kundan Shah, Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan returned their national awards. Amid the growing parade of those returning their awards, actor Anupam Kher recently led a “march for India” in Delhi to slam those choosing to give back their honours.


Kapur further said that those who felt passionately about opposing the government must go all out to do so. “Returning awards is just going half way there. I had to fight in the Supreme Court to get Bandit Queen out. It took me three years but when you believe in something, you go all the way to fight for it,” said Kapur, whose other acclaimed films include Masoom and Elizabeth.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who has made films such as Rang De Basanti and Bhaag Milka Bhaag, said there was nothing new about the tendency to divide people.

“What is this intolerance they are talking about? There has always been violence between Shaivite and Vaishnavites, Shias and Sunnis, Buddhists and Hindus, Catholics and Protestants etc,” said Mehra.

He said further, “I am all for positive discussions, to take the country forward. Returning an award and sending a spokesperson to a TV channel will not bring down intolerance.”

Director Prakash Jha said he has ten national awards and that he cherishes each one of them. “That said, I respect those who returned them. It’s their way of protest. But I didn’t do it. I would rather let my films show my rebellion,” said Jha, who has to his credit films such as Damul, Gangaajal and Apaharan that have shown protests for different reasons.