FTII & SRFTI Gets University Status
The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata have been granted deemed-to-be university status, enabling them to award degrees and offer doctoral programmes. A game-changing move in Indian film and media education
In a move that’s bound to get the clapperboards clapping and the chai break discussions buzzing, the Ministry of Education has officially declared the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata as deemed-to-be universities. That’s right – two of India’s most hallowed film schools can now dole out degrees instead of just posh-sounding diplomas. It’s not just a plot twist—it’s a whole new act!
According to a top-brass MoE official (who we presume now has a fan following of their own), the status has been granted under Section 3 of the UGC Act, and the decision was greenlit after a hearty recommendation from the University Grants Commission. Quite the endorsement—like winning the Palme d’Or of Indian academia, if you will.
Cue the Applause: What This Means
For starters, no more awkward pauses when students are asked, “So… is it a real degree?”
Both FTII and SRFTI will now be able to offer doctoral, research and innovative academic programmes—the sort of thing that gets academics hot under the collar. They’ll also hop aboard the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC – no, not the alphabet, but an initiative that lets students mix and match credits like a cinematic buffet), and yes, they’ll get to show off in the NIRF Rankings.
It’s all part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s grand vision, which aims to make our educational institutions less bureaucratic and more Bollywood—dynamic, dazzling and a little dramatic.
A Bit of Backstory (Because Every Good Film Has One)
FTII was born in 1960 on the old grounds of Prabhat Studios in Pune—think of it as Bollywood’s Hogwarts for budding directors, screenwriters, and the occasional over-caffeinated cinematographer. Originally called the Film Institute of India, it joined the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting family and adopted its now-famous name in 1971.
It didn’t stop there. In 1974, the Television Training wing from Delhi packed up and moved to Pune. Presumably, the weather was better and the vada pav more tempting. Since then, FTII has trained everyone from Doordarshan anchors to the nation’s next potential Oscar nominee. In 2017, its PG Diplomas were even declared equivalent to a Master’s Degree—so it’s been flirting with academia for a while now.
Meanwhile, SRFTI, the artsy younger sibling, was established in 1995 in Kolkata and named after none other than Satyajit Ray—a man so talented he probably storyboarded his own dreams. SRFTI has carved out a niche as the thinking person’s film school, offering postgraduate programmes in everything from cinematography to sound design, and more recently, the snazzy world of digital media.
The Final Frame
Now that both FTII and SRFTI have the power to award degrees, we imagine the convocation ceremonies will be chef’s kiss—black robes, dramatic lighting, perhaps a slow dolly zoom as the Dean walks in. But on a more serious note, this decision marks a pivotal shift in how film and media education is perceived in India.
With greater autonomy, these institutions can now not only compete on a global stage but also foster a new generation of filmmakers, storytellers, and digital visionaries who won’t just “make it big”—they’ll make it matter.
So here’s raising a metaphorical glass (or a director’s megaphone) to FTII and SRFTI—deemed worthy, and rightly so. Now, if only someone could deem the canteen samosas award-worthy too.
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