{"id":176212,"date":"2022-03-26T20:49:07","date_gmt":"2022-03-26T15:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=176212"},"modified":"2022-03-28T12:52:32","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T07:22:32","slug":"film-archives-are-our-heritage-they-must-not-be-monetised","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/film-archives-are-our-heritage-they-must-not-be-monetised\/","title":{"rendered":"Film archives are our heritage. They must not be monetised\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p aria-level=\"1\"><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">News:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> In recent developments, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has decided to bring all regional and national offices of the National Film Archives of India (NFAI), Films Division (FD), Children\u2019s Film Society of India (CFSI), and Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) under the workings of the <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">National Film Development Corporation (NFDC)<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Brief Introduction about institutes<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Films Division:\u00a0 <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">It was established in 1948. It produces, and distributes newsreels and documentary films on historical events and political figures. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><strong>&#8211;<\/strong> In <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Post-Independence<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, films made by the erstwhile colonial agencies of <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Information Films of India, Indian News Parade,<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> and <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Army Film<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> and <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Photographic Unit<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> were handed over to Film Division (FD).\u00a0 It preserved audio and visual records of India\u2019s history of decolonisation and the process of nation-building. For example, it includes works of Satyajit Ray, MF Husain, Mani Kaul, Pramod Pati, and more recent films by contemporary filmmakers.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The NFAI: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">It was established in 1964. It has the mandate to trace, acquire, and preserve the <strong>heritage of fiction cinema in India.<\/strong> It preserves several thousand films, books, scripts, posters, and photographs dating back to the 1910s, and it actively promotes film research and scholarship on <strong>Indian and South Asian<\/strong> cinema.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The CFSI: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">It was established in 1955. It was given the responsibility for <strong>producing children\u2019s films<\/strong><\/span><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The DF: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">It was established in 1976. It organises the National Film Award, for example, Dada Saheb Phalke Award, and the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) etc.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The NFDC: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">It is a public sector undertaking. It was established in 1975 and aimed to promote filmmakers outside the mainstream film industries of India. It also contributed to the development of parallel cinema.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Arguments in favour of the decision<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In the era of digitisation, both NFAI and FD have uploaded rare Indian films, posters and photographs on their YouTube and Instagram accounts to increase public access. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Therefore, non-availability of the physical archives won\u2019t create problem in the future.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What are the issues involved?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">It implies neglect on the part of Indian government wrt cultural and historical value of films. It means the Govt views film as a medium for information and broadcasting. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">As per NITI AAYOG\u2019s 2018 analysis, <strong>NFDC is a loss-making unit<\/strong>. Subsequently, its closure was also proposed in Parliament. Therefore, it is not wise to bring FD, NFAI, CFSI, and DFF under the banner of NFDC.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The <strong>film fraternity of India was not consulted<\/strong> before taking the decision of merger with NFDC.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The <strong>MIB has not given any explanation<\/strong> to why four public-funded bodies are being merged with a loss-making corporation.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The <strong>government has not explained the plan<\/strong> through which the transfer of fragile and inflammable material like celluloid will be carried out.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The MIB has also <strong>dismissed various RTI inquiries<\/strong> and a writ petition by FD employees. It has ignored numerous articles, public debates and open letters written by concerned filmmakers, historians and archivists that seek clarification on the matter.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The uploading of the <strong>archives on social media platforms is going to face problems<\/strong>. They will be owned by big multinationals. In recent years, a number of interviews, reports, and articles have been taken down from social media platforms based on the pressures of governments and interest groups. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">There are other questions like <strong>who will crowdfund a public archive<\/strong> from our individual hard drives etc.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In case of absence of autonomous public institutions, the archives may be tampered, damaged, or destroyed forever.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What is the way forward<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">?<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The government should declare archives as national heritage. Their monetisation should not be allowed.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">India must preserve great works of cinema. It should establish systems of exhibition where the public can freely access them as has been done in the USA, France, UK, etc.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Source: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The post is based on the article \u201cFilm archives are our heritage. They must not be monetised\u201d published in the Indian Express on 26<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">th<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> March 2022.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>News: In recent developments, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has decided to bring all regional and national offices of the National Film Archives of India (NFAI), Films Division (FD), Children\u2019s Film Society of India (CFSI), and Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) under the workings of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).\u00a0 Brief Introduction&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/film-archives-are-our-heritage-they-must-not-be-monetised\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Film archives are our heritage. They must not be monetised\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10328,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1230,9],"tags":[263,10500],"class_list":["post-176212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-9-pm-daily-articles","category-public","tag-gs-paper-1","tag-indian-express","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","views":{"total":0,"cached_at":"","cached_date":1704847409},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10328"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176212\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}