Kamal Hassan for film archive facilities in each state

Image courtesy- PTI

Pune: Actor-filmmaker Kamal Hassan today pitched for dedicated film archive facilities in each state to facilitate students, who are studying cinema.

Hassan was invited as a chief guest at closing certification ceremony of the Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop 2016 at National Film Archive of India (NFAI) here.

He paid homage to the 82-year-old founder and former director of NFAI, P K Nair, who breathed his last here on March 4.

"I request (the) government to set up separate film archives in each state so students, who are studying cinema can avail the facility whenever they want. And (can) even access 12,000 films (which) Nair Saab (P K Nair) managed to preserve for us and probably his (Nair's) dream of having film archives in each metropolis and state might come true," the "Vishwaroopam" actor said.

"I would also like to request (Central) government to set up a dedicated institute of film preservation and digitisation in the name of Nair Saab (P K Nair).

"Few years ago, I and Nair Saab (P K Nair) wanted to set up film archive in Chennai, however, due to some reason it did not happen, but having dedicated archives in each state is plausible mission and that is why I put forth it," he added.

On the Centre's ambitious project - National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM)- which is being housed in NFAI, Sunil Arora, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said, "All the hurdles have been cleared in the project and it will receive its first tranche of funds (of) Rs 20 crore in next two to three days."

"Film preservation and restoration workshop could be organised once in every two years as it is creating skill set and manpower and (the) ministry is committed to give complete support in this regard," Arora added.

"The NFHM in all practical terms has kick started now. It will now be implemented in time bound manner. We will take best practices from world over and NFHM will be implemented as per global standards," the I&B secretary said.

The workshop was conducted on the idea of furthering and facilitating the knowledge of film restoration.

Among the present were NFAI Director Prakash Magdum.

The workshop saw lectures, presentations and practical classes, conducted by leading international experts pertaining to film preservation and restoration.