Now Reading: Manipur’s rare 8mm film reels to be digitised in Italy
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Manipur’s rare 8mm film reels to be digitised in Italy
A collection of 15 rare 8mm celluloid reels from Manipur, shot mostly between the mid-1930s and early 1960s, will be professionally digitised in Bologna, Italy. The Imphal-based S.N. Chand Cine Archive &…
The Story in Brief
A collection of 15 rare 8mm celluloid reels from Manipur, shot mostly between the mid-1930s and early 1960s, will be professionally digitised in Bologna, Italy. The Imphal-based S.N. Chand Cine Archive & Museum is collaborating with the Home Movies Foundation-National Family Film Archive for the project, as no facility in India can handle such vintage reels.
The footage, captured by Maharaj Kumar Priyabrata Singh and Kongbrailatpam Ibohal Sharma, shows Manipur's native life, cultural traditions like boat races, and landscapes including Loktak Lake. The project was fast-tracked after the archive's principal conservationist, Johnson Rajkumar, attended a film restoration school in Bologna. Digitising the remaining 10 reels depends on funds.
The Indian Opinion
While this collaboration is a proud moment for Manipur's film heritage, the narrative of 'no facility in India' oversimplifies the problem. Many state archives struggle with funding and trained manpower, not just technology. The real test lies ahead: will the state and central governments step up to digitise the remaining 10 reels, or will this remain a one-off international favour?
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
