The scenario is repeated with the next set of anchors, and when a particular take doesn't go the way she'd like it to, a hint of steel and a touch of irritation creeps into her voice. But only for a fleeting moment, because the next moment she is back to her grandmotherly best.

The shot canned, Paranjpye calls for lunch, over which she tells you that patience is not one of her virtues. ``But I am learning. You have to be patient if you have to get work done,'' says Paranjpye.

And getting the work done, she is. It's well known that being chairperson of the CFSI is one of the more thankless jobs around. The state of children's films isn't as good as it should be. And it is all the more tough at a time when Walt Disney and Cartoon Network have become synonyms for children's programming.

Paranjpye agrees that the Society has a long way to go before it can take on either Disney or Cartoon Network, but she appears sure that she can make a dent. ``Being a government organisation, we are faced with certain constraints. But once one has accepted to take on a certain post, one better make sure that one delivers,'' she says with determination.

The ``constraints'' are well documented. Despite belonging to the same ministry - of Information and Broadcasting - programmes made by the CFSI do not find a regular slot on Doordarshan. Bal Doot, which has been on air for 25 weeks now, still has a tough time finding a permanent slot. Faced with the shoring up of its sagging bottom-lines, Doordarshan has been shunting the programme up and down the Sunday morning schedule. Viewership, as a result, has been affected. With a chaotic viewership graph, sponsors are unwilling to join in, giving Doordarshan more reasons to play football with Bal Doot's slot.

``It's a vicious circle,'' says Paranjpye. ``We could market the programme better if we had a permanent slot. It's all a question of bottom-lines, and we are suffering because of it. Still, the programme has found a backer. Life Insurance Corporation has stepped in to sponsor the show, and Doordarshan has finally parked the programme at the Sunday 12.30 p.m. slot.''

With the assurance of a permanent slot behind her, Paranjpye now wants to strengthen the content of the programme and monitor it over a period of time for consistency and quality. This is proving to be a minor problem, because of the travelling she does, both in her capacity as chairperson of the CFSI and a film-maker. In the last six months alone, Paranjpye has visited 14 countries.

Although tiring and taxing - ``I am not getting any younger'' - her trips have exposed Paranjpye to ``some fantastic animated programmes,'' especially from the Scandinavian countries. Asked to compare India's animated output to what she has seen, Paranjpye is quick to say that they stand up well. ``Our animated films have won awards in many places, and as far as the quality of work goes, we are on par with what the world can offer.''

But it is children's films that are a matter of perennial concern, and she is doing her bit to change the situation. She has commissioned three film-makers, including Santosh Sivan and A.K. Bir, to make children's films and these are ready.

``These aren't stuffy films which see children through an adult perspective. These are fun films that children will love to watch. There is no conscious intention to sermonise or deliver a message. If they don't, you haven't lost anything,'' says Paranjpye.

She is positive that the days of children being treated with kid gloves will soon be over. Towards that end, she has incorporated an interactive section in Bal Doot, which asks pertinent questions on the state of world affairs and rewards the best answers that come through.

Paranjpye still has over half her term to go, and wants to leave the society in better shape than she found it in. And what better way to do than through meaningful entertainment.