NFAI to build new complex

PUNE: This year, the festival of lights could bring another ray of hope at the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) Pune. The country''s treasure trove of Indian and foreign cinema plans to expand and start the Phase-II construction of an additional ''NFAI Complex'' at Survey No 49-53 Erandwane, near MIT College, Pune 29 during October-November. With Pune as its headquarters, NFAI has regional offices at Bangalore, Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram. Speaking to TNN, NFAI director, L.K. Upadhyaya said that the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Society, Pune had approved and allocated a one acre plot for the proposed NFAI complex, last year. "We have submitted a MoU to the FTII director and we expect get a positive response within the next few weeks," Upadhyaya said.He said that while the Information and Broadcasting ministry has earmarked Rs 2 crore for the project, the civil construction wing (CCW) of All India Radio is working out a preliminary estimate, which is expected by the end of this month. Presently, the NFAI houses 1.20 lakh film reels in their three vaults. "Bearing in mind the current set-up and influx of film material -- film reels, song booklets, posters, scripts, stills etc. the existing building will get saturated within four years, hence the need to construct an additional NFAI complex is essential," Upadhyaya said. Every year, the NFAI acquires, preserves and exhibits some of the world''s oldest and rare films -- feature, documentary and short films. During 2000-01, they acquired 259 film titles, 137 fresh titles and 122 duplicate prints and during 2001-02, they acquired 144 film titles, 96 fresh titles and 48 duplicate prints.The proposed NFAI complex will be a single storyed centrally air-conditioned and fireproof building. Unlike the existing underground film preservation vaults, the new complex will have ground floor vaults of similar storage capacity. "The height of the vaults will be at least 30 feet high so that it will accommodate taller sliding racks and mobile ladders," Upadhyaya explained. In addition, it will have separate rooms for books, film script libraries, documentation sections and film checking-cum-viewing rooms. Besides this, there will be a modern 40-seater preview theatre and small viewing rooms for researchers, mentioned NFAI''s deputy director K.S. Sasidharan. NFAI''s pipeline projects include setting up a state-of-the-art infrastructure for Telecine facility. "Preserved film reels, needs to be checked physically every two years. The Telecine facility involves transfer of celluloid films on tape or disc format, Upadhyaya explained. Currently, the authorities physically carry the film and avail telecine facility from Mumbai. "Although high-priced, an in-house telecine facility will save time and reduce long-term damage to the films," Upadhyaya said.