/> Taking over the mantle of the chairperson of the troubled Children's Film Society (CFS) which Jaya Bachchan and Hema Malini assumed and did their best to cope with, is not easy.

Activist-actress-director Nandita Das has taken over the thankless job and has many plans already crystallizing in her head.

Nandita is quite kicked and challenged by the new responsibility. "Yes, I've been asked to be the Chairperson of the Children's Film Society. It is a lot of work and responsibility, but much needed work, so I have agreed.

And as you know this is an honorary post.The list of gratis work is just expanding. Whether my bread is being earned or not, I am sure getting to be part of a lot of interesting and challenging things."

She intends to take her duties very seriously. " I have always felt disturbed by the fact that children's films have not been taken seriously. We all feel bad about the kind of stuff kids watch, but why complain when we don't provide them an alternative. Let's see what I will be able to do, but I will try my best. That much I know."

Speaking from Durban where Nandita is currently screening her directorial debut Firaaq the actress said, "I first plan to meet all the people already involved and understand the system, see what they already have in the archives. I plan to sieve the best and see how they can be distributed."

Nandita plans to create a script bank for the CFS. "I want to create script committees to get some good scripts that are fun, imaginative and intelligent. Today's children are not to be undermined. The potential is huge and my mind is buzzing with ideas! But it must be a shared idea and so involving all the people in the organisation is very important."

In fact Nandita is armed and raring for the fight in Durban. "I have carried some reading material that The I&B Minister, Mrs. Ambika Soni has given to acquaint myself with this new responsibility."