Manipur's cinematic legacy shines at ARCUREA
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 22 2024:
RCUREA, a prestigious 7-day global event organised by the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata from March 16 to Friday stands as a significant moment for Manipur in the field of film preservation and the safeguarding of cinematic heritage, positioning the state as a leader among Indian states in this field.
In a release, Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) secretary Sunzu BM conveyed that the global event supported by NDFC-NFAI and Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting focused on crucial aspects of film archiving, restoration, and curation.
Among the distinguished institutions invited to contribute their insights and experiences was the SN Chand Cine Archive & Museum (SNCCAM), established by MSFDS under the Directorate of Art and Culture.
SNCCAM shared its expertise and best practices in film archiving during the event, highlighting its innovative approaches despite financial constraints.
The release continued that during the festival's inauguration, the digitally restored Manipuri film "Ishanou" (1990), directed by Aribam Syam Sharma and jointly restored by the Film Heritage Foundation and MSFDS, was screened at SRFTII's main auditorium as part of the Festival of Restored Films, showcasing Manipur 's cinematic legacy alongside timeless Indian masterpieces.
A key component of ARCUREA was a two-day international colloquium exploring film's role as cultural heritage and delving into various facets of film restoration and archiving in the Asian region.
Representing MSFDS in a session titled 'Archiving in Government Institutions in India,' film archivist Johnson Rajkumar presented Manipur's remarkable efforts in preserving its cinematic past and digitising its future.
Rajkumar s presentation shed light on SNC-CAM's achievements, including the successful 4K digitisation of "Brojendragee Luhongba," Manipur's first film directed by a Manipuri film director, and the preservation of reels from 'Mainu Pemcha" (1948), Manipur's earliest attempt at making a feature film, it mentioned.
MSFDS also informed that the session also unveiled plans to digitise and restore works by MK Priyobarta and Kongbrailatpam Ibohal Sharma's 8mm actuality films in Bologna, Italy, signalling SNCCAM's commitment to advancing its archival efforts.
This remarkable showcase of Manipur's film preservation endeavours underscores its unique position as the only Indian state with a state-owned film archive featuring a conservation laboratory, dedicated to ensuring the preservation of deteriorating films for future generations, it added.