Guwahati: National Award-winning filmmaker and journalist Utpal Borpujari has been nominated to the Board of Advisors of the Indian Institute of Creative Skills (IICS) — India’s first industry-led creative incubator set up under the leadership of Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty.
The institute, backed by the Media & Entertainment Skills Council (MESC) chaired by Grammy-winning musician Shankar Mahadevan, operates under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and is affiliated with the NSDC Academy of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
An alumnus of IIT Roorkee and a former film critic, Borpujari joins a distinguished board that includes acclaimed directors Girish Kasaravalli, Rahul Rawail, and Shonali Bose; editors A. Sreekar Prasad and Bina Paul; producer Shibashish Sarkar; action director Sham Kaushal; actors Dia Mirza and Amit Behl; costume designer Neeta Lulla; lyricist-screenwriter Kausar Munir; cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran; animation filmmaker Kireet Khurana; and theatre stalwart Feroz Abbas Khan, among others.
Borpujari also currently serves as a member of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) Society, the apex decision-making body of the IIMC.
IICS is being launched in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Create in India” vision and aims to transform India into a global skill hub in the creative and entertainment sectors. Its first campus will open in Delhi, with plans for nine more across the country.
The institute will offer skill-based degree and certificate programs in diverse fields such as sound design, music video production, makeup and prosthetics, costume design, animation and game development, event and experiential management, digital PR and journalism, digital content creation, media management, and visual and communication design. Additional courses are expected to be introduced over time.
Speaking on his nomination, Borpujari said, “I am privileged and honoured to be part of this forward-looking initiative aimed at empowering the younger generations of our country in various fields associated with the entertainment industry, which is projected to see exponential growth in the coming years.” He also thanked Resul Pookutty for inviting him to be part of the advisory board.
Beyond traditional classroom education, IICS aims to provide hands-on training through mentorship by national and international experts and involvement in real-world projects and events.
Admissions for select programs are now open, with more information available on the IICS website and social media platforms. Borpujari also urged aspiring students from the Northeast to explore this opportunity: “I hope youngsters from Northeast India will take full advantage of this skill-driven initiative that prepares them to enter the industry with the tools they need to thrive.”
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