Working in 55-year-old government structure not easy: Nandita

Nandita Das describes her two-and-half year stint at the Children's Film Society India (CFSI) as a "challenging experience", but adds that working in a 55-year-old government structure is not easy.

While her three-year tenure with the CFSI as its chairperson will come to an end in August this year, she doesn't mind working harder in the remaining time. 

"It is an honorary position. You do it for the love of it. The more problems that you see, the more you want to solve them. You keep getting involved," Nandita told IANS on the sidelines of a function here Monday.

"It has been a challenging experience. Working in a government structure which has been in existence for 55 years is not easy. You get to produce quality cinema. But you have limited funds and then you have the responsibility of using public money at the end of the day," added the 42-year-old actress.

Since Nandita took up this role, the CSFI has undergone a lot many positive changes. For instance, Gulzar, Vishal Bhardwaj, Mohan Agashe and other prominent cinema and theatre personalities have joined the executive council of the CFSI on her persuasion so that this autonomous body under ministry of information and broadcasting benefits from their expertise. 

However, Nandita feels that systemic changes are more important than person-related changes.

"I am trying to bring systematic changes. We are making rules and regulations more contemporary, more thoughtful. The next chairperson will bring in new ideas. I think they'll have certain things in place to take it to the next level," she said.

An acclaimed artist for her performances in "Fire", "Bawandar" and "Maati Maay", Nandita says working for the CFSI came naturally to her. 

"I love being with kids. It is always so refreshing. They have the kind of honesty and purity that you crave for in today's world and children have it in abundance," said the actress, married to Subodh Maskara and who together have a son, Vivaan. 

Being critical of the cartoons that are fed to children these days, she said: "We all know the standard of stuff that we import from outside, dub it and show. CFSI cannot control that but at least we can provide them with an alternative. That is what we are trying to do."