The story so far: On Saturday (October 24, 2026) veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah issued a video statement supporting the students of Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), who have been protesting at the institute over the past few weeks.
Mr. Shah launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the party was taking “revenge” on anyone not subscribing to its beliefs and policies.
“The latest victims of this vendetta are the students, the aspiring filmmakers of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. In return for their demand for accountability from the administration, they have been served show cause notices, put under surveillance, threatened and now have even been asked to vacate the hostels,” the actor said in the video message.
Mr. Shah alleged the BJP is “either hoping to brainwash or frighten future filmmakers of the country” and added, “I can promise you that is not going to happen”. He urged all right-minded citizens to support the demands of the students of SRFTI.
This was not the first time that actors and filmmakers have come in support of students of SRFTI. Several prominent names in the film fraternity, including the institute‘s alumni, have expressed anguish over what has been happening at the institute for the past several weeks. However, the remarks by Mr. Shah evoked strong reactions from the BJP leadership in West Bengal.
Attempts to weaken democracy says BJP
The State BJP questioned the motives of Mr. Shah and said that the actor wants to weaken democracy in the country. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rahul Sinha called for a full investigation into the veteran actor’s criticism, alleging that his remarks could be linked to an international conspiracy.
Mr. Sinha alleged that Mr. Shah had suddenly emerged from a long period of inactivity to make political statements against the BJP. Another BJP leader and MLA Ritesh Tewari said that Mr. Shah is an opponent of the BJP and the Sangh.
“I also know his elder brother. His daughter is married in Kolkata; she is the daughter-in-law of a CPI(M) leader and has even contested elections. When ministers from West Bengal and the Mayor of Kolkata were raising the slogan of Dawat-e-Islam, why was Naseeruddin silent?” the Kashipur Beleghata MLA said.
SRFTI on the boil since September 27
The film school, which is administered by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has been on the boil for almost a month now. Violence erupted at the campus of SRFTI on September 27 as outsiders clashed with students on campus. Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), a right-wing consumer group, was holding an event at an auditorium inside the campus.
When the students learnt about the event, they started protests outside the auditorium. A group of students also entered the venue and raised slogans, and tried to remove posters and banners from the event. The students and a few faculty members were assaulted by the outsiders.
Students have been staging an indefinite sit-in outside vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera’s office since October 12, demanding his resignation and accountability for the attacks on the campus. Earlier, on October 15, 2026, six students of the SRFTI were rusticated for allegedly vandalising the vice-chancellor’s office and manhandling him. On October 16, the institute suspended regular academic activities in its Film and Electronic and Digital Media departments until November 13 and directed students to vacate their hostels and other premises within 24 hours.
SRFTI students allege power cuts, administration defends action
On October 25, a section of SRFTI students claimed that power supply to the only classroom they have been accessing for internet connectivity and workstation facilities was cut off, accusing the administration of intensifying measures to pressure them into calling off their agitation.
SRFTI registrar Deepak Kumar in a statement on October 25 clarified that disciplinary action against certain students was initiated over alleged misconduct, vandalism, defacement and physical assault, and not for exercising their right to protest.
“The institute categorically clarifies that the disciplinary actions initiated against certain students are related to specific acts of misconduct, vandalism, defacement and physical assault…Any attempt to link these actions to students’ legitimate exercise of their right to protest misrepresents both the facts and the specific grounds on which proceedings were started,” the statement added.
In the statement Mr. Kumar stated that rustication orders and show-cause notices were issued in response to alleged violations of the institute’s by-laws and standards of student conduct. The registrar said that after suspension of classes film and electronic and digital media wings until November 13, students were directed to vacate the institute premises, including hostels, within the stipulated period. “Despite the clear direction to vacate, some students have continued to occupy the premises illegally,” the statement alleged.
On October 24, the SRFTI administration submitted an 18-page internal report detailing the attack and establishing a comprehensive timeline of events. After the September 27 violence, a special investigation team was set up by the West Bengal government to probe the incident.
Members of Parliament including CPI(M) MP John Brittas and CPI MP Dr. V. Sivadasan have sent letters to Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging the Ministry to intervene and resolve the stalemate. The premier film and television institute remains on the boil with students and administration at the loggerhead.
Published – October 26, 2026 02:02 pm IST
