Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri was on Monday appointed the new cultural representative of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
Agnihotri is also a member of India’s Central Board of Film Certification. His appointment to the council was formalised by its President Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.
This is the first time in the history of 70 years of the Indian Council For Culture Relations (ICCR) that Indian cinema is also being included in other culture programs of ICCR.
Taking the charge, Agnihotri expressed his happiness over being the “first-person” from the film industry to represent the cause of the industry in the ICCR.
“I am extremely honoured by Indian Council For Culture Relations, India’s apex body on the promotion of great Indian culture across the world for including cinema and I am deeply honoured for being the first person from the Indian film industry to represent the cause of this industry in the overall cultural promotion globally,” Agnihotri said.
He also added, “I will perform my duties as a cultural ambassador representing the film industry with the best of ability.” Agnihotri is also a member of India’s Central Board of Film Certification.
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) was founded in 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, independent India’s first Education Minister. Its main objectives are actively participating in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes pertaining to India’s external cultural relations; to foster and strengthen cultural relations and mutual understanding between India and other countries; to promote cultural exchanges with other countries and people, and to develop relations with nations.