The movement was kick-started by writers, who gave away their Sahitya Akademi awards in a symbolic show of protest against the growing disregard for freedom of speech and the murder of three intellectuals.
Soon scientists and many other filmmakers including Bollywood director Dibakar Banerjee and documentary maker Anand Patwardhan joined in the growing chorus against what they called government's apathy in addressing these concerns.
"This is the only National Award I have for 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' am I feel very sad to part with it. I owe this award to my alma mater FTII- there would've been no JBDY if I had not studied at FTII," Shah said.
The director said before deciding to return their awards, they had raised the matter several times during the 139-day- long FTII strike but the government failed to listen.
Mirza, a former chairman of FTII and known for his films like "Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai" and TV show "Nukkad", said the protest started by the students has become bigger and the movement against "intolerance, divisiveness and hate".