Pune: Dhiraj Singh, a 1995 batch officer of the Indian Information Service (IIS), has been appointed as the new full-time Director of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). Singh assumed office on Monday, 12 August 2024, ending a vacancy that had persisted for more than two-and-a-half years.

Singh's appointment is particularly noteworthy as his tenure has been extended to five years, a departure from the usual three-year term traditionally associated with the position.

Before this role, Singh served as Additional Director General at the Press Information Bureau and has worked with several key government bodies, including the Prime Minister’s Office and the President’s Secretariat. An alumnus of Allahabad University, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and UC Berkeley, Singh holds an MPhil in international relations. His deep interest in cinema is reflected in his recent book, Modern Masters of Cinema, which explores the lives and works of prominent figures in the film industry, such as Al Pacino, Amitabh Bachchan, and Quentin Tarantino.

Singh succeeds Bhupendra Kainthola, who served as FTII Director for six years until his transfer in December 2021. Kainthola’s tenure was marked by significant changes within the institute, though it also faced controversy due to his strict governance. Since then, Sandeep Shahare, Dean of the TV wing, had been serving as the in-charge Director.

Singh’s appointment is expected to bring fresh direction and leadership to FTII, which has long been a significant institution in the fields of cinema and television education. His extensive experience in media, communication, and public policy, combined with his passion for cinema, positions him well to lead the institute into a new chapter. /BI