One of the most influential filmmakers from among 10 National Award winners, who announced on Wednesday that they will return their awards to show solidarity towards protesting Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) students who, until this week had been in a logjam with the government, over the appointment of the institute’s chairman BJP member Gajendra Chauhan, Dibakar Banerjee hasn’t lost hope. The act, he says, is an urgent appeal, not resignation.

Dibakar Banerjee Filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee speaks at a press conference after returning his National Award in protest against the government over the FTII students’ strike. PIC/PTI