Screening of rare films and footage to mark NFAI’s Foundation Day

Pune: The National Film Archive of India will mark its Foundation Day by screening rare films as well as footage on February 1 and 2. On the cards is screening of the iconic ‘Devdas’ (1935, Bengali) directed by Pramathesh Barua. This will be the first screening of the film in India after 17 years.

The National Film Archive of India (NFAI) had acquired the film from the Bangladesh Film Archive. Now, English subtitles have been added to the film. The film starred Barua as Devdas and his wife Jamuna as Paro along with KL Saigal, said a statement issued by NFAI on Friday. Audio recordings of recitals by renowned Hindustani classical singers Hirabai Barodekar, Sarswati Rane and a Pakhavaj solo by Govindbuva Burhanpurkar will also be played as part of the celebrations.

A 1950 short film on the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum by Roy Kinikar will also be screened. The film features the first speaker of Lok Sabha GV Mavalankar, Kakasaheb Gadgil and first commissioner of Pune SG Barve. Some footage of the silent film Bilwamangal (1919) will also be screened. The film directed by Rustomjo Dotiwala was made under the banner of Elphinstone Bioscope, a precursor to Madan Theatre that later became a big production company in the silent era. A short film on Aurbindo Ashram, produced by Tarachand Barjatya and directed by Phani Majumdar under the banner of Auro Films, will be another highlight.

The short film Kavincha Kavi Keshavsut, made on the birth centenary of poet Krishnaji Keshav Damle, in which songs were composed and sung by Sudhir Phadke, is another attraction. Short films on Maharshi Karve, Tanjore, Madurai, Konkan, Delhi and Kashmir are also scheduled for screening. A documentary on the 1982 Mumbai labour strike, directed by Pradeep Dixit will also be screened. Short films Aajche Pune, Solapur and Ahmednagar and Aajche Sangli, Kolhapur and Satara, made in the 1960s showcase the development work carried out after the second Five-Year Plan, will also be screened.

“We plan to celebrate our Foundation Day with screenings of these rare and archival films from our collection so that film lovers can watch a slice of our cinematic heritage,” said Prakash Magdum, director NFAI. All films will be screened at the main NFAI auditorium on Law College road. Entry is open to all, with seating on the first-come-first-serve basis.