The archives at NFAI hold not just spools of films and historical documents related to cinema, but also precious memories of those who parted with these prized possessions in the first place

The documentation of cinema can never be limited to mere recording simply because of the artistic element associated with the medium. Following the rules of the medium it is associated with the conservation of, the collection from the world of Indian Cinema at National Film Archives of India (NFAI) can similarly never be mere storage. The memories and the trust of countless donors, who donate their most precious possessions to the institute is what gives the collection an archival value.

“Gathering information related to the Indian film industry is a Herculean task and it cannot be completed without the participation of people. Be it old films or memorable photographs, we have had an overwhelming response from the people across the country. Till today we have collected over 5000 famous titles from eminent people as well as film enthusiasts, and many more are yet to be received are many more to come,” smiles Vijay Jadhav, director, NFAI.

Prabhakar Pendharkar, son of legendary filmmaker Bhalji Pendharkar, has donated countless photographs of his father to the NFAI and narrating one of the memories of his father, Pendharkar says, “In 1932, my father, made a film called Shyaamsundar, which was the first movie that celebrated a silver jubilee in Mumbai. Unfortunately there are no records of the prints of the movie. The only memories left are the photographs and they mean more than anything else in the world to me. My father created history and I am ensuring that the legacy is carried forward by conserving the remnants.”

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