Manish Pandit takes over as Film Development Board chair, minister urges board to serve all

Manish Pandit took over as chair of the Film Development Board on Monday. Staff and officials at the board's office welcomed him with garlands.

Before that, he had received his letter of appointment from Communications and Information Technology Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina at the ministry and taken the oath of office and secrecy. The cabinet meeting of Asoj 30 had decided to appoint him chair.

About a dozen people had applied for the post. The ministry had shortlisted Pandit, Naresh Kumar Paudel and actor Nisha Adhikari as the final three and recommended them to the cabinet.

While handing over the appointment letter, Minister Timilsina urged the board to become a shared institution for all film workers. He said filmmakers have long complained that the board does not belong to everyone, and that they have high expectations from the current government.

He said the government's job is not to make films but to provide the right policies, environment and incentives. Pandit, a producer and writer, has previously worked on the production teams of the films "Jaira" and "Gangster Blues."

He has also worked at the board as an expert, consultant and box-office advisor, and had been involved in implementing the box-office system and e-ticketing in cinema halls.