Since its humble beginnings in 1960, the renowned premier film school of India, Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has come a long way. Today, the FTII is commonly regarded as a centre of excellence across the world. Films made by the students of the institute have enjoyed excellent reception at festivals in India and abroad and have gone on to win national and international awards. The institute has been famous in producing numerous stalwarts like Jaya Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah to Rajkumar Rao and Rajkumar Hirani. Truly, the alumni of the FTII have left an indelible imprint across all facets of Indian cinema and television and built up an excellent reputation in allied industries.
Corporate Citizen met up with Dharmendra Jai Narain, fondly known as DJ, Director, FTII. DJ, an ardent music lover, bureaucrat, singer, composer and writer, fun loving, versatile and full of life. On a nostalgic note, he took us through his early days in college, his journey from a musician to being a director of the renowned FTII, the prestigious centre and its achievements and the way forward for this premier institution. Back in 1998, there was a popular band called “The Aryans” formed by DJ, then an officer in the Indian Civil Services, K.M. Sadasivan (Sadu)and Jai Walia, scriptwriter and title music composer for television serials. Together they formed the big band “Aryans”. The theme song of their first album ‘Ankhon mein tera hi chehra’ was a major hit then. Their music was refreshingly original, exciting and amazingly melodious. The creative repertoire was matchless. Their public performances and concerts were incredibly energetic, entertaining, pulsating and astoundingly interactive. Aryans today occupy an immortal and unique place in the history of rock and pop music in India. Today, they are a six member rock band with five albums.
DJ: I feel very close to the students, staff and faculty here. There is a sense of transparency and fairness around. FTII has been India’s finest institution, one of the best in the world and I feel proud to be associated with it…I can’t believe that it’s been four years already. In the last budget, finance minister Arun Jaitley proposed FTII to be accorded the status of an institute of national importance. The bill is with the cabinet now. Currently, we are restructuring and revitalising the syllabus which is essential for the growth of the institution. It’s a very important development for FTII now because it’s a very creative place. Even the greatest of the people who have passed out from this place ask why is this happening… Because you see, nobody wants change, they are sceptical about it. They want to preserve the heritage. So I have said that we will definitely preserve everything. You see, we had to keep pace with the times and there were some systemic issues too, which we realised, must be addressed. Last year, our FTII students won 19 awards out of 60 national awards. So apart from the awards and accolades, we thought something has to be done to improve the health of the institution and I am glad we are doing it.
So what are the different initiatives taken at FTII today?We have initiated the National Students’ Film Awards in the last three years where students from any institution or academic institution can compete. Any student who has made any film as part of any curriculum, can showcase his/ her talent on film-making. Last year a student from Ahmednagar, who could not even speak decent English, won the best director award. He was competing with the best people at FTII. So this was definitely an eye opener. You see stories can be told in many ways through the digital medium. We have also come up with some exceptional international student exchange programmes where we send about 20 students from FTII each year to an international exchange. So out of 80 students who are learning film-mak ing, about 20 per cent go for this programme, which is fully paid by the government. This activity has been there since a while now, but in the last two to three years we have strengthened the programme by sending students to various international exchanges like Beijing, Cape Town and other parts of the globe. We are trying to do different things which will improve the environment at FTII and take it to the next stage. We are trying to maintain it and I am glad that we are really successful. Every institution may say, “We had our golden era,” but we say “Our era continues.” So despite problems and challenges as an institute, we work and continuously strive to churn out the best students.
We are trying to do different things which will improve the environment at FTII and take it to the next stage. We are trying to maintain it and I am glad we are really successful. Every institution may say, “We had our golden era,” but we say “Our era continues...
What is the criteria to get into this institution or join a particular course? Take us through your selection process.
There’s a written test, audition, three to four day workshop where we judge their orientation, we give them on-the-spot tests and then they come for an interview. So you have to cross four levels. It’s not like an engineering classroom. We train students in the classical format, there’s practical training. We give them an education perspective, we give them all perspectives of Indian cinema. There is a love for independent cinema, and you won’t find many students rushing towards Bollywood. Technical students do go for commercial film making.
How about infrastructure up-gradation and government funding?Infrastructure up-gradation is taking place in a massive way. We will soon have new acting studios, a new knowledge centre, new classrooms, new residential accommodation, and new technical equipments. We will spend about Rs.200 crore in the next five years, out of which Rs.80 crore will be spent on equipment, infrastructure and buildings. We currently spend about Rs.14-15 lakh on each student per year and we offer stateof-the-art facilities, and some of the finest teachers who come from different parts of the world to teach here. We will need more infrastructure, more resources and support.
There were issues on the completion of courses…in fact a few years ago, you had mentioned in one of your news reports that the whole schedule will be on track by 2015…What’s the status now?Well, there were some syllabus issues in the past but we are now restructuring the courses. There is a difference between syllabus and curriculum. There was a dire need to relook at the syllabus. Courses ran for too long and were getting delayed. Cinema is not classroom activity. Hence, the length of certain courses have been altered, giving enough time for students to think. There will be a new syllabus for the new batch this year. We will announce the dates this month. No changes in subjects, just the length of certain courses like screenplay writing, art production, will be altered.
Take us through the history of FTII.
Prabhat Museum houses artefacts, original contracts and partnership deeds of the Prabhat Film Company in addition to costumes, properties, equipment, posters and stills of archival value. Prabhat Film Company, popularly known as Prabhat Films was an Indian film production company and film studio, formed in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India in 1929, towards the end of the silent film era, by the noted film director V. Shantaram, along with V.G. Damle, K.R. Dhaiber, S. Fatelal and S.B. Kulkarni. The company moved to Pune in 1933, where it established its own studio and has produced many films in both Marathi and Hindi
FTII is a unique and noted film institute of India. What do you think of the various private institutes for acting and other branches of film making that have sprouted over the last few years?
On the students’ agitation, that part is over. It’s a story of the past. In the past four years, students have been very cooperative and wonderful. There is a lot of transparency in the curriculum today. This is a high risk profession that is highly insecure and students know that they have chosen an intensively creative path. Students know the fact that we too have our compulsions and know that such agitations will only delay the curriculum. So we both have moved on now. Students are willing to cooperate and these kind of agitations are not in the air anymore. Students too are very sensitive here. Any student can walk up to anyone and feel free to communicate, without any hassles. We see to it that there is no communication gap. Regarding the administration issues of the canteen facilities, there are administration issues in any institution, there are some disciplinary issues. We have provided employment to some of the dependents of the canteen staff and are trying to help them in different ways.
Individual attention is given to each student. We encourage them to meet the faculty one-on-one for consultation throughout their course, thereby creating an environment that promotes personal development and learning
We believe acting courses were stopped sometime in the 1970’s, what was the reason then? Have you started this course again?Oh yes, the acting courses resumed long ago. Rajkumar Rao, who acted in the movie Queen is from FTII. Rajkumar Hirani, Pitobash Tripathy, Divyendu Sharma are all from FTII. Every second or third actor is from our institution. This institution has produced some of the best actors, directors, cinematographers, sound designers, screenplay writers, editors and Art Directors Production Designers.
In India, filmmaking is generally not looked upon as a lucrative career option as against other professions...what are your thoughts?You see, to be a film maker, one has to go against the normal crowd. It is a line worth pursuing. Times have changed. This is a “3 Idiots” era. But it’s a wonderful profession, a wonderful medium to discover yourself, very satisfying, but it has its own insecurities.
Your take on independent filmmakers?Well, they are all wonderful filmmakers in their own right. India has such a big film base, so you need to be different, you need to be creative…you need to create your own signature. You cannot follow a given model.
FTII’s summer film appreciation course is very renowned. Please tell us about it – the course, who participates and what have been the benefits for the participants.We teach about 60-70 persons who are or wish to be connected with film studies, research, media, cinema movement or show some serious inter est in understanding art, learning cinema. The duration is one month. The advertisements are out in April. There is a particular mechanism to select students.
Tell us something about your faculty.We have different types of faculty members, namely, permanent, external and visiting faculties. Visiting faculty members are professionals who come in for a short duration.
Cinema is not classroom activity. Hence the length of certain courses have been altered, giving enough time for students to think. There will be a new syllabus for the new batch this year. We will announce the dates this month.
Most of them here are FTII pass outs. External faculty members are semi-permanent, selected through a panel process, whereas permanent faculty members include those who are experienced in film making and have qualifications from some of the eminent institutions of the country. So it is a good mix of all. All in all, we have a good faculty. We have 50 faculty members today. The number is quite optimal as of today.
Take us through the quality of students at FTII today.A lot of seniors say that our students today have gone ahead from what they were, their work in direction, screenplay is simply wonderful. Our students come from hugely diverse backgrounds and are extraordinarily talented. They may be different in appearance, with big beards, long hair, but their work is wonderful. Individual attention is given to each student and here we encourage them to meet the faculty one-on-one for consultation throughout their course, thereby creating an environment that promotes personal development and learning.
How has social media and YouTube helped Independent movie-makers in film making?Social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube have a lot of relevance today. It did provide a platform, but because it is now an overcrowded space, for ambitious people it’s a let-down. For amateurs, it’s good, so depending on the objective, if you want to make a small amateur platform, this is the best platform. If it’s a big release, it’s not a wise thing to do.
How challenging has your role been since you took over in 2011?My role has been very challenging but, I am enjoying it, there were times when I didn’t sleep for many days, over issues with cops, society, students. For a long time, it was an isolated campus. Now, it is a very rich location. Those well off and senior retired officials and residents at the high-rise buildings close by do have issues with students making noise. I say, allow students to enjoy their freedom. Let them sing even at 11 pm, but neighbours always have issues. So I spend too much time trying to settle these matters. When I joined FTII, I thought I can watch one movie every day, but I have hardly watched, maybe five or ten movies till date. So I am missing that fun.
Tell us something about your family.I have one wife (laughs) and two kids. My daughter is pursuing her education in the social sector. She wants to change the world. She is a wonderful singer too. My son is in the tenth standard, studying at the Bishop’s School. My dad was a freedom fighter. We are five brothers, I am the youngest of all. Because I was the youngest of the lot, I was always pampered by my siblings. They would always help me.
Take us through your college and ‘musical’ days.I was a decent student in college. I remember I had then scored fourth in the UP merit list and received a scholarship of about Rs.2,500-3,000 from the Government after two years. I was living in Lucknow then. With this money I went to buy some books. On the way, I used to watch this guitar shop daily, which always fascinated me. That day I decided to visit the shop and came out after three to four hours after I bought some guitars and musical instruments. When I got home, my mom was shocked that I had got some musical instruments instead of books. But the moment I struck the first note, something happened. I had composed my first song on day one itself. That’s how I began composing songs. I somehow wanted to be the ‘Beatles’. We were a band of idealistic youngsters. We wanted to change the world. So we started working for UNICEF. We later formed an NGO called ‘Kshitij’ in Lucknow. We started working towards different literacy programmes.
We adopted many slums and villages across Lucknow University. We always felt that there was a problem in the system—the inequitable, political and social system. We thought there should be a change in the system. So we had a lot of discussions with the people working in the fields of Bihar and Chattisgarh. Later, we decided to fight student elections in the late 80’s, but we realised that we are not the violent types. Meanwhile, we had formed a lot of bands like ‘Dreams’ and ‘Shankhnaad’. As a youngster you always keep experimenting. We used to participate in all college festivals and were quite popular.
Tell us about your career.I had got selected to IIT Kanpur for my PhD, and had also cleared the GATE scholarship. I also got a merit in the University so got a chance to teach monetary economics in the same University. Within a few days of my joining IIT Kanpur, I became the president of the music council. I used to compose my own songs. I was so thrilled then—studies going smooth, scholarships happening, decent academics, fan following, popular at college, freedom-- what more do you need from life, I thought. This is ‘the’ most desired life--with studies, music and everything under the roof. Aaj toh purane yaadein taaza hogayi. Later, I was also a professor of Mass Communication at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. I also served as Defense Spokesperson, Southern Command in Pune during 1997-98.
Did you ever think that you would be the director of this prestigious institution someday?I never ever even remotely thought that FTII would happen to me. We all seek change at some point in time. When I was working in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in Delhi, I was asked to take up this role at FTII. That makes you realise that you can never plan your life.
Tell us about your book, Soldiering On. Do you plan to write more books in the future?“Bahut zyaada questions hain yaar, kitna research kiya hain” (laughs). Well, ‘Soldiering On’, is an anthology of the saga of the Indian Armed Forces during the last 100 years. I wish to write more books but I don’t get the time. There are some ideas, though.
What is your motto in life and advice to youth today?I have strongly believed that you don’t plan your life. Be passionate and honest. I believe in the philosophy, “If it can be done, I will do it.” I am very optimistic about life. Even when most people in FTII feel something cannot be done, I always feel, it can be done. I too have faced challenges, but if you stay put and hold on, without giving up, you will succeed. After all, there are no shortcuts to success. Stay focused, be determined and you will achieve it.
As we wound up our interview late in the night, we see DJ walking towards his bungalow which is adjacent to where his office is, at the FTII premises. He is seen striking a chord with his students, waving out to them…indeed it was a wonderful experience to meet him.
By Mahalakshmi Hariharan
