Anurag Thakur, Information and Broadcasting minister said approximately 1,300 feature and 1,062 short films and documentaries have been digitized under the National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM).

Mr. Thakur visited the National Film Archives of India in Pune on Saturday and evaluated the progress done under the Mission.

According to the minister, 2,500 more feature and short films, as well as documentaries, are scheduled to be digitized.

Mr. Thakur said, “NFHM is breathing new life into Indian cinema’s heritage by making many films that were previously unavailable to audiences worldwide in the highest possible quality, while also ensuring the long-term preservation of Indian cinema for the next 100 years and beyond”.

According to an official announcement, 1,293 features, 1,062 shorts, and documentaries have been digitized in 4K and 2K quality to date.

It stated that conservation work on 1,433 celluloid reels had been completed in collaboration with L’immagine Ritrovata, the world’s foremost expert in film conservation.

“Three major projects are currently underway at the Pune-based NFDC-NFAI as part of NFHM: film digitization, film reel conservation, and film restoration”, the statement added.

Further, the statement read, “All of these projects are massive in the field of film preservation and have never been attempted on this scale anywhere in the world”.

The statement stated that hundreds more films will be preserved in the coming months, and in some cases, these reels may be the only surviving copies of certain rare Indian films.

“NFDC-NFAI has recently begun the restoration project, with 21 films undergoing digital restoration. Numerous features, short films, and documentaries will be digitally restored over the next three years”, the statement read.

(With input from PTI)

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