Filmmakers Return Award

Veteran Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma on Sunday said would like to return his Padma Shri that he was awarded in 2006 in protest against the central government's Citizenship Bill. The 82-year-old made the announcement in Imphal.

Deepika Padukone has been nominated in Teen Choice Awards for her performance in her Hollywood debut film xXx: Return of Xander Cage

"The problem is that intellectuals have become the voice of the society and that is very less in terms of percentage. We should take everyone into account. There is a tendency of intellectuals to become a club and that arrogance of the club becomes oppressive. It is a burden on the society," said Shekhar Kapur

"When we talk of intolerance, it depends on who is empowered. For example, there may be people who think that they might dislike something but cannot do anything about it. Also, there can be people who feel that they can do something about it when they are empowered," said Anurag Kashyap

Several filmmakers, including Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan, have returned their National Awards in solidarity with the FTII students and against growing intolerance in the country. Sharmila Tagore also finds it offensive to label audiences as educated or uneducated, Indian or non-Indian

Filmmaker Shyam Benegal is against the recent trend of filmmakers and writers returning National awards as a protest against the growing intolerance in the country. He believes it's not a healthy trend.

"I find nothing wrong in the fact that filmmakers are returning their National Awards. It is a brave act. They, as citizens of India are entitled to express their dissent through the means which they choose," said Mahesh Bhatt

At the same time as 24 filmmakers announced on Thursday that they were returning their National Awards to protest against what they called "rising intolerance", Amit Shah, the president of the ruling BJP launched a book titled, 'Know the Truth'.

"It (returning national awards) is not a right thing to do. I feel it is a politically instigated matter. People are dying to get a National Award. It's a national reputation. People come to me saying if I can help them in getting a National Award. And here, these people are returning awards," said Hema Malini

Kundan Shah, the maker of the iconic film 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron', and Saeed Mirza, were among the 24 filmmakers who returned their National Awards today and added their voice to what has come to be known as the "Award Wapsi" protest against "rising intolerance".

The decision of a varied group of filmmakers, authors and poets to return government-granted awards as a form of protest has left opinion divided and India's film fraternity fractured. Supriya Pathank asked: "Are we gaining anything from that? Have you been able to make a point that something has changed? Whom are we pressurising by this?"

"I am very hurt that my film has got involved in this controversy. Dibakar has no right to return the award because this award is not his. It is given for the film that includes everyone - actors and the producer. How can he return the award," said Savita

A group of 10 filmmakers, including Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan, announced on October 29 that they would return their national awards to protest against the "threat to diversity and freedom of speech."

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi today said the decision of several artistes and filmmakers to return their awards in protest against "a culture of intolerance" is a "symbolic gesture" of bigger things to come.

If public intellectuals are ostracized or vilified from speaking their minds, India risks becoming a "cultural dictatorship", world famous music conductor Zubin Mehta has said, calling the protest by writers, filmmakers and scientists returning honours "brave".

Veteran Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma on Sunday said would like to return his Padma Shri that he was awarded in 2006 in protest against the central government's Citizenship Bill. The 82-year-old made the announcement in Imphal.

Deepika Padukone has been nominated in Teen Choice Awards for her performance in her Hollywood debut film xXx: Return of Xander Cage

"The problem is that intellectuals have become the voice of the society and that is very less in terms of percentage. We should take everyone into account. There is a tendency of intellectuals to become a club and that arrogance of the club becomes oppressive. It is a burden on the society," said Shekhar Kapur

"When we talk of intolerance, it depends on who is empowered. For example, there may be people who think that they might dislike something but cannot do anything about it. Also, there can be people who feel that they can do something about it when they are empowered," said Anurag Kashyap

Several filmmakers, including Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan, have returned their National Awards in solidarity with the FTII students and against growing intolerance in the country. Sharmila Tagore also finds it offensive to label audiences as educated or uneducated, Indian or non-Indian

Filmmaker Shyam Benegal is against the recent trend of filmmakers and writers returning National awards as a protest against the growing intolerance in the country. He believes it's not a healthy trend.

"I find nothing wrong in the fact that filmmakers are returning their National Awards. It is a brave act. They, as citizens of India are entitled to express their dissent through the means which they choose," said Mahesh Bhatt

At the same time as 24 filmmakers announced on Thursday that they were returning their National Awards to protest against what they called "rising intolerance", Amit Shah, the president of the ruling BJP launched a book titled, 'Know the Truth'.

"It (returning national awards) is not a right thing to do. I feel it is a politically instigated matter. People are dying to get a National Award. It's a national reputation. People come to me saying if I can help them in getting a National Award. And here, these people are returning awards," said Hema Malini

Kundan Shah, the maker of the iconic film 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron', and Saeed Mirza, were among the 24 filmmakers who returned their National Awards today and added their voice to what has come to be known as the "Award Wapsi" protest against "rising intolerance".

The decision of a varied group of filmmakers, authors and poets to return government-granted awards as a form of protest has left opinion divided and India's film fraternity fractured. Supriya Pathank asked: "Are we gaining anything from that? Have you been able to make a point that something has changed? Whom are we pressurising by this?"

"I am very hurt that my film has got involved in this controversy. Dibakar has no right to return the award because this award is not his. It is given for the film that includes everyone - actors and the producer. How can he return the award," said Savita

A group of 10 filmmakers, including Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan, announced on October 29 that they would return their national awards to protest against the "threat to diversity and freedom of speech."

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi today said the decision of several artistes and filmmakers to return their awards in protest against "a culture of intolerance" is a "symbolic gesture" of bigger things to come.

If public intellectuals are ostracized or vilified from speaking their minds, India risks becoming a "cultural dictatorship", world famous music conductor Zubin Mehta has said, calling the protest by writers, filmmakers and scientists returning honours "brave".