Mumbai: While students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) continue their protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as its chairman, National Award-winning filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has suggested the names of eminent directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Rajkumar Hirani and David Dhawan, who he thinks deserve the position more than Chauhan.

Mishra took to micro-blogging site Twitter on Thursday to express his concern for the FTII students, who have been protesting for over two months now.

"To all those who matter. Please find a way out of the FTII mess. Make Bansali, Hirani or David or Prakash (Jha) or Vinod (Vidhu Vinod Chopra) or Resul (Pookutty) or Mani (Ratnam) the Chairman," Mishra tweeted.

In another post, Mishra, who has directed films like "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi", "Yeh Saali Zindagi" and "Main Zinda Hoon", condemned the government's decision to arrest five students on charges of rioting and more in a post-midnight swoop on Tuesday.

He wrote: "What's this down with left liberal crap going on with regard to FTII. All the students want is a great film artiste.

"What message are you sending to the youth of this country by arresting the FTII students. That they have no role in governing their lives! I think both the government and students should agree to a three-man committee headed by Shyam Benegal who should restructure."

(IANS)