Steps on to preserve video and digital Manipuri films
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 07 2025: In line with their goal of protecting the legacy of Manipuri cinema, the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) has expanded its activities from celluloid preservation to the archiving of video and digital films to safeguard Manipuri cinema's recent works.

With the setting up of an online server to securely store digital films, MSFDS has appealed to all producers and directors of Manipuri cinema to come forward and deposit their works, both video and digital, with the SN Chand Cine Archive & Museum (SNCCAM), which it owns and manages, for preservation.

In a press release, Sunzu Bachaspatimayum, secretary, MSFDS has urged all filmmakers to safeguard their legacy by archiving their works while maintaining that "every film is a part of our collective memory".

MSFDS has urged filmmakers to collaborate in this mission by entrusting their works to SNCCAM so they may endure for generations to come.

Aside from its most celebrated restoration projects including Aribam Syam Sharma's Ishanou and SN Chand's Brojendragee Luhongba, work is also underway on restoring Imagi Ningthem (1982) at L'lmmagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy, added the press release.

As part of its initiative to preserve Manipuri films, 132 fragile reels of Manipuri cinema (10 feature films and 5 documentaries) are being digitized at the National Film Archives of India under the National Film Heritage Mission of the Prime Minister.

MSFDS is also negotiating the acquisition of 27 Manipuri film negatives lying with the West Bengal Film Development Corporation.

Additionally, to enrich its collection, SNCCAM is acquiring 13 antique but functional film equipment pieces from Hyderabad's Kala Film Editing Centre.

Comment