NEW DELHI: She's famous in the world of classical dance and choreography, but the country's next film censor chief has never been on the silver screen. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has selected noted Bharatanatyam dancer Leela Samson, currently chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and director of the Kalakshetra dance school in Chennai, as the new chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), according to sources.
While Ms. Samson confirmed that she has been asked to take on the role, she declined to comment until she is officially intimated about her appointment. While she is not familiar with the film industry and made it clear that she already has a number of responsibilities on her plate, her achievements in the field of culture and aesthetics could have led to her selection, she felt.
She will succeed veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, who has been CBFC chairperson for the last six years, overseeing a period of great changes in the industry.
“It's a break from tradition,” said Ms. Tagore, referring to Ms. Samson's selection. “A long time ago, the chairperson was a bureaucrat — who did an excellent job — but ever since, it has been someone from the Bombay film industry.” Her predecessors have included such legends of the silver screen as Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Shakti Samanta, Asha Parekh and Anupam Kher.
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