D J Narain takes charge as director of FTII

PUNE: Dharmendra Jai Narain took charge as the new director of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) on Tuesday.
Narain has succeeded Pankaj Rag, whose three-year term got over in February. Lead singer-composer of one of India's well-known pop-rock bands, The Aryans, the new FTII director is popularly known as D J Narain.
Narain belongs to the 1990 batch of Indian Information Service (IIS).An alumnus of IIT, Kanpur, Narain has also been associated with Pathfinders Lintas before joining the civil services.
His first tryst with FTII dates back to 1993, when Narain underwent a month-long course in film and television production as a part of his IIS course. Later, in 1997-98, Narain served as defence spokesperson for the Southern Command in Pune.
"I will continue making music and touring with my band alongside serving as FTII's director. It's a challenge juggling both activities, but it will prove fruitful," Narain told TOI on Tuesday. His four-member music band has five successful albums, more than 800 concerts and numerous awards to its credit.
The Aryans has also composed 25 singles that will be released in the coming months. "We are also collaborating with various film projects that can use these singles," added Narain, who has served as a professor of mass communication at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. He was also a lecturer of monetary economics in Lucknow University, Uttar Pradesh.
Besides making music and holding bureaucratic positions, Narain has a close association with theatre and cinema. He co-scripted and directed 'Jamunia', a mega-budget Hindi theatrical production based on a woman's triumph over all odds in her village that has been supported by the ministry of information and broadcasting. It premiered in February this year. The government of India (GoI) has decided to adapt it in more than 10 languages for which the work has already started. In order to complete this task, Narain will continue to hold additional charge as Officer on Special Duty, GoI, New Delhi. "The 'Jamunia' production will premiere as a serial on Doordarshan early next year. I'm surely going to make a film on it."
"Over the years, I've also lent my creative inputs to film scripts and film music," Narain said.
At FTII, Narain plans to teach communication. On his vision for the institute, he said, "Right now it's too early for me to comment on the institute's proposed upgradation. But whatever challenges we face, I'm sure we will be able to surmount them. We have to adapt to change, students and faculty need to be communicated to effectively and my efforts to achieve our objectives will be second to none.
Narain has also authored a coffee-table book 'Soldiering On', an anthology of the saga of Indian Armed Forces during the last 100 years. The book has been widely reviewed and appreciated by the media. He is also the recipient of numerous academic scholarships and has been a topper all through with merit positions in Board and University examinations. He was also adjudged All India Best Probationer at the Civil Services Academy.