MUMBAI: The Pune-based Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) has appointed veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur as the president & chairman of the governing council, a position he will hold till March 2023.
Information & broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar made the announcement on Twitter. He also stated that that Kapur will add value to the institute.
Happy to inform that renowned international film personality #ShekharKapur has been appointed as the President of FTII Society & Chairman of Governing Council of FTII.@narendramodi @shekharkapur pic.twitter.com/lARfoDW4b9
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) September 29, 2020
Kapur, in turn, thanked the government for the posting.
Thank you Sir, for the honor. We are a land of stories. Of creativity. And of such varied culture. With your support, and combined with modern technologies, i see a future where our creative talent takes our stories and wins the hearts and minds of people worldwide
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) September 29, 2020
He replaces BP Singh who was appoiinted president n 2018. Singh is best known as the producer of the long-running Sony TV show CID and was recently appointed by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to its general assembly.
Several industry stalwarts and organisations gave their thums up to Kapur's appointment.
hearty congratulations hon minister @PrakashJavdekar for entrusting our esteemed film maker @shekharkapur as chairman of governing council of @FTIIOfficial film n television institute of india.I am sure my friend shekhar will add a great value with his vast experience. My best
— Subhash Ghai (@SubhashGhai1) September 29, 2020
Congratulations to @shekharkapur! A true master filmmaker at the helm of India’s premier film institute, FTII, will surely help India achieve excellence in cinema and find its place on the global stage at a time when filmmaking is exploding the world over.https://t.co/b7MfEegzHX
— Ranvir Shorey (@RanvirShorey) September 29, 2020
Heartfelt best wishes to you @shekharkapur .Your unmatched experience,broad vision and contemporary pathbreaking ideas will benefit many in your new role.#ShekharKapur @FTIIOfficial https://t.co/NRgBggiDtK
— Prasoon Joshi (@prasoonjoshi_) September 29, 2020
The 75-year old Kapur is well known both in India and internationally, having been involved with cinema for the past four to five decades. Some of the more critically acclaimed films he has been associated with as a producer or director include: Mr India, Bandit Queen, Queen Elizabeth, Masoom, and others. This apart, he has been the host of the TV show Pradhanmantri in 2013.
FTII is India's leading institution for film making. Started in 1960, the institute, it is situated on the premises of the erstwhile Prabhat Studios in Pune. It has produced some of India's finest film talents and icons. It offers a variety of courses including - direction, screenplay, cinematography, editing, direction, screen acting.