The restoration project, which was awarded on May 4, is about to get underway at India’s National Film Archive (NFAI).
Approximately 2,200 films will be restored as part of the NFHM. The films were chosen by language-specific committees made up of filmmakers, documentary filmmakers, cinema historians, and producers, including Aparna Sen, Shriram Raghavan, Anjali Menon, and Vetrimaaran.
“The NFHM includes continuing preservation operations such as film condition assessment, preventive conservation, and digitization, with a total budget of Rs 597 crore, making it one of the world’s largest film preservation missions,” Thakur added.
Indian film, which has been around for over a century, occupies a unique position in the pantheon of world cinema. He stated that the restoration of Indian films will allow present and future generations to enjoy the splendor of these films, which have enthralled audiences for decades.
In the meantime, the NFAI has completed the restoration of ten outstanding Satyajit Ray films, which will be screened at international cinema festivals. “Pratidwandi” has been chosen to premiere in the Cannes Classics Section in the year 2022.
The Feature Heritage Foundation is also working with the NFAI on the preservation of G. Aravindan’s 1978 Malayalam film “Thampi,” which will be shown during the Restoration World Premieres in Cannes.
In addition to Satyajit Ray flicks, feature films like “Neelakuyil” (Malayalam) and “Do Aakhein Barah Haath” (Hindi) will be discussed. Shorts and documentaries from the NFAI’s Films Division, as well as other unique resources, including pre-independence footage, will be restored since they capture India’s growth like no other.
From the best remaining source material, frame-by-frame digital and semi-automated manual picture and sound restoration are used. The original negative or print will be scanned at 4K resolution into pdf files, which will then be digitally repaired.
During the restoration process, scratches, grime, and abrasions will be removed from each frame of the photographic negative. The sound was likewise restored in a manner similar to that of the picture. The sound negative’s frequent pops, hisses, crackles, and distortions will be digitally eliminated. The digital picture files will be colour graded (DI process) and balanced after restoration to achieve the look of the film when it was first released.