Muzaffar Ali donates rare copy of Anjuman to NFDC–NFAI

The NFDC–NFAI collection has been enriched by the generous donation of the award-winning film Anjuman (1986) by renowned filmmaker Muzaffar Ali. A 35mm release print of the Hindi feature film, directed and produced by Shri Ali, was donated to NFDC–NFAI as part of its ongoing efforts to preserve India’s cinematic heritage. The print was formally handed over by Shri Muzaffar Ali to Shri Prakash Magdum, Managing Director, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), in New Delhi.Anjuman was an official selection of the Indian Panorama in 1986 and was also screened at the prestigious Vancouver Film Festival and Tehran Film Festival. The film was extensively shot in old Lucknow, with principal cinematography by Ishan Arya. Despite being showcased at several international film festivals, the film did not receive a theatrical release. Shri Ali said, “Anjuman was one of the steps that followed Gaman, Aagaman, and Umrao Jaan. I believe the work undertaken by NFDC–NFAI under the National Film Heritage Mission is extremely valuable for the film world—especially for filmmakers. The celluloid medium is very fragile. When the image starts fading, it is heartbreaking, because every frame is crafted with great care for colour and design. Losing that beauty to time is terrible. NFDC’s work in preservation and conservation is like a breath of fresh air. This isn’t a business; it’s about building bridges. Only the larger vision of a nation can make this happen.”He added, “When I donate my film reels, I see a future—not just for the film, but for the many eager eyes who would like to experience the beauty of Anjuman. For me, Anjuman is an exquisitely coloured and crafted cinematic document, and losing it would be a terrible thing. It is a relief to know that these films can find a future—that they can be restored by the NFDC–National Film Archive of India. The least I could do was to work with the Archive and offer my print.”Shri Prakash Magdum emphasized the importance of preserving the country’s cinematic heritage for future generations and noted that the National Film Heritage Mission of the Government of India, implemented by NFDC–NFAI, is a major step in that direction. While thanking Shri Ali for donating a copy of the film for preservation, Shri Magdum appealed to all stakeholders in the film industry to come forward and contribute to saving film heritage by depositing films and film-related material.The film holds a unique place in Indian cinema history for several artistic milestones. Notably, lead actress Shabana Azmi sang her own playback songs under the music direction of Khayyam, with lyrics by Shahryar and the late Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The film sensitively portrays the lives of women engaged in the chikankari craft of Lucknow and highlights the socio-economic exploitation faced by artisans despite the finesse of their work.