Nandita Das — New Chairperson of Children Film Society of India

Indian actor-turned-director Nandita Das, known for her critically acclaimed performances in films like Fire, Earth, etc., has been appointed as Chairperson of Children’s Films Society of India (CFSI).

She has been appointed for a period of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier, of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The post had been vacant after actress-social activist Nafisa Ali resigned to contest the Lok Sabha poll 2009 from Lucknow on Samajwadi Party ticket. She, however, failed to make her debut in politics as she could not win the election.

Born to a celebrated Indian painter Jatin Das, the 39-year-old Nandita Das has left an unforgettable impression as an actor, and now has made a successful directorial debut through Firaaq. The film had its world premier at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was released in India on the 20th of March 2009.

She has acted in nearly 37 feature films made in Hindi, English, Malyalam, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi and Tamil languages. Some of her memorable movies in which she has acted outstanding performance are Kagaar, Supari, Pitaah, Lal Salaam, Bawandar, Earth, Hazaar Chaurasi ki Maa, Fire (all in Hindi) Amar Bhuvan (Bengali), Kamli (Telugu), Provoked (English), Maati Maay (Marathi).

She has been awarded:
* Best Actress for Bawander - Santa Monica Film Festival (2001)
* Best Actress for Amar Bhuvan - Cairo Film Festival (2002)
* Best Actress for Maati Maay - Madrid International Film Festival (2007).

Basically a Theatre artist, Nandita Das is a good writer too. She writes on the subject of various social concerns. She has also directed some of the Short Films, such as:

• Rainwater Harvesting — A 90 sec. Public interest spot for the Centre for Science & Environment, shot on 35mm.
• Education for All— A 60 second Public Service Advertisement for UNICEF, shot on 35 mm.
• Learning is child’s play (I) — A 60 second PSA for Social Initiatives Group, shot on 35 mm.
• Learning is child’s play (II) — A 60 second PSA for Social Initiatives Group, shot on 35 mm.
• Imprint in Clay — A documentary on Sardar Gurcharan Singh, The pioneer of Indian studio pottery, shot on Umatic

Apart from directing short films, she has also acted in some of the other short films in the direction of other filmmakers like Saayey (2005), Indo-Pak Music Film (2004), Fleeting Beauty (2003), Saanjh (1999).