During a recent event in Delhi, Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting mentioned that the five films screened last month during the Dev Anand retrospective week on his 100th birthday were restored by the NFAI. While the NFAI is in the process of restoring and digitising thousands of films, it still has a long way to go in restoring the massive number of films it possesses.
On World Cinema Day, actors and directors expressed their gratitude towards NFAI for restoring films.
I have seen that when Guide was screened at the NFAI in Pune, the queue of people who were interested in watching the film extended beyond the gate of the building: Apurva Chandra, Secretary I&BSpeaking at a film restoration workshop organised by the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) in partnership with Film Heritage Foundation, he said that to save film heritage everyone needs to contribute.
He said,"The Dev Anand retrospective that was conducted on his 100th birthday, all these films were restored by the National Film Archive of India. I have seen that when Guide was screened at the NFAI in Pune, the queue of people who were interested in watching the film extended beyond the gate of the building. I saw CID during the retrospective, and to watch CID after all these years in a restored version was quite an experience."
The wake-up call for film archives came 8-10 years ago when there were numerous media reports about films lying unattended and deterioratingHe added, "The wake-up call for film archives came 8-10 years ago when there were numerous media reports about films lying unattended and deteriorating. Around 2013-14, the National Film Heritage Mission project started. This project has really taken off, and we are in the process of digitising 5,000 films and restoring 550 of them. The work is ongoing. Digitisation will be completed next year, and restored films will take a couple more years. We have started showing our restored films at international film festivals like Cannes. The restored section has also become a regular feature of film festivals."
He told the restorers and guests that the NFAI has around 30,000 films, and they are digitising 5,000 films. It is up to everyone to contribute and take up the restoration of other films that are in the National Film Archives to preserve them for posterity.
A crucial aspect of the NFHM is the restoration of classic films Movies like ‘Barsāt Ki Rāt’, C. I. D. (1956), Guide (1965), and Jewel Thief (1967), Johny Mera Naam (1970), Bees Saal Baad (1962), ‘Aghaat (1985), and many more have been
brought back to the silver screen in 4K resolution, decades after their theatrical release.
NFAI said in a statement,"In a country as diverse and culturally rich as India, the importance of preserving its cinematic heritage cannot be overstated. However, many of these cinematic gems created by legendary actors and filmmakers, risked being lost to time due to the deterioration of film prints and a lack of proper preservation. However, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry's efforts to restore and preserve old classics as part of the National Film Heritage Mission found praise from eminent film personalities."
Prithul Kumar, MD, NFDC, said in a statement,"A crucial aspect of the NFHM is the restoration of classic films. Many of the older film prints are in a state of decay due to the passage of time, improper storage, and various environmental factors. These films are in danger of being lost forever if not carefully preserved. Old and deteriorating prints are meticulously revitalized, ensuring that the films; original quality is retained. One of the key
components of NFHM is the digitization of films. This process involves scanning and converting analog film prints into digital formats, which not only ensures their long-term preservation but also makes them accessible to a wider audience. The digitization process allows for easier restoration and distribution of classic films, making them available for future generations to study and enjoy."
After 60 years, it remains a sensible and mature picture that is also very entertaining: Waheeda RehmanI don't like watching my own pictures, because one sees all the faults, but I was pleasantly surprised watching the restored version of Guide. After 60 years, it remains a sensible and mature picture that is also very entertaining. It was a special thrill watching it on the big screen with my daughter beside me. I would like to thank the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for restoring these movies and keeping them intact for future generations to enjoy."
I am glad that the MIB and the NFDC-NFAI restored my 35mm film: Govind Nihalani Watching the restored version of my film Aghaat was deeply satisfying. The sound quality, the color correction, the grain management; everything was outstanding. I am glad that the MIB and the NFDC-NFAI restored my 35mm film Aghaat.
Experience of watching will stay with me for a very long time.’Vishnupriya Pandit, granddaughter of Bharat BhooshanAs a cinegoer and an avid cinema lover, I truly appreciate the efforts taken by the NFDC-NFAI to refurbish Indian cinema's
golden history. As a granddaughter, watching my grandfather, Mr. Bharat Bhooshan, on the silver screen was a lifelong desire, and to experience it in the theater was pure joy. I thank the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for restoring ‘Barsāt Ki Rāt’ and the NFDC-NFAI for the invitation to watch the movie on a silver screen. That experience will stay with me for a very long time.
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