- Sana Memon

Located in the iconic Prabhat studio premises, the Film and Television Institute of India has inherited a rich legacy in quality cinema. It imparts training in film making and television production since 1960. The institute has carved a niche for itself and its alumni include the stalwarts of the film and television industry of India. Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Subhash Ghai and Oscar winning mixer Resul Pokkuty are just a few gems on its crown. The alumni of FTII have excelled in all forms of the Indian film industry. The students have won many national and international awards. The centre is considered the best not only in India but also across Asia and Europe.

This year the FTII will enter its golden jubilee year on March 20, 2010 with celebrations planned the year round. The festivities are to begin on March 20 with films, cultural programmes, seminars and alumni participation. The three-day celebrations will be presided over by minister of information and broadcasting Ambika Soni. Former teachers’ employees and Prabhat studio alumni will be felicitated by veteran actor Dev Anand on the occasion. An exhibition ‘Down the memory lane’ will also be inaugurated.

Screening of the films of the first batch will mark the beginning of the second day. This will be followed by a seminar on ‘FTII and the ethos of cinema in India’. A classical recital by Pandit Rajan and Pandit Sajan Mishra will conclude the day. The third day will begin with a open forum with cinematographer Herve Schneid from Germany and director-composer-cinematographer Siegfried Debrebant from France.

The closing ceremony of this extravaganza will see a performance at the Shantaram Pond by FTTI students, Chau dance by Natraj Chau Nirtiy Party, Jamshedpur and Qawwalu by Mohammed Ahmed Khan and Party from Rampur.

The anniversary shall also showcase the upgradation work taken up by the institute in the recent past. A proposal for a global film school in Kothrud, increase in the intake of number of students, an international film festival is some of the ideas that the institute plans to execute. A revised curriculum would also be sent for proposal during the year.

The alumni association GRAFTII has managed to source several alumni from various batches who will be attending the golden jubilee celebration spread over three days.