National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM)

In response to a question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting informed that 1,469 film titles, amounting to approximately 4.3 lakh minutes of films, have been digitized under the National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM) so far.

About the National Film Heritage Mission

The National Film Heritage Mission was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with the objective of restoring, preserving, and digitizing India’s rich film heritage.

Implementation Agency

The Mission is implemented by the National Film Archive of India (NFAI), Pune.

Objectives of NFHM

The key objectives of the National Film Heritage Mission include:

• Conducting condition assessments of film reels to determine their remaining life.

• Undertaking 2K and 4K restoration of picture and sound for landmark Indian films.

• Creating new picture and sound inter-negatives for long-term preservation.

• Digitizing films to ensure wider access and safeguard against physical degradation.

• Constructing archival and preservation facilities, known as vaults, with controlled environmental conditions.

• Organizing training programmes and workshops to build in-house technical capacity.

• Developing a web-based, end-to-end IT solution for film preservation and archival management.

National Film Archive of India (NFAI)

The National Film Archive of India was established in February 1964 as a media unit under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.

Mandate and Functions

The primary mandate of NFAI is to acquire, preserve, and maintain India’s cinematic heritage.
Its preservation work covers both film and non-film materials, including:

• Celluloid films

• Photographs and stills

• Glass slides

• Posters and lobby cards

• Scripts and song booklets

Promotion of Indian Cinema

In addition to preservation, the NFAI actively promotes film culture and appreciation in India.
It organizes film screenings, film appreciation courses, and research programmes, thereby fostering academic and cultural engagement with Indian cinema.

Organizational Structure

The NFAI is headquartered in Pune, with regional centres in Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Thiruvananthapuram.

International Affiliation

The National Film Archive of India has been a member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) since 1969, reflecting its global engagement in film preservation standards.