Day 4 of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) offered a magical, immersive journey into India’s cinematic past with the special screening of the restored silent classic Muraliwala (1927). The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the National Film Archive of India (NFAI), under the National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM), presented the experience as part of the Indian Panorama Special Package, curated to showcase 18 meticulously restored films across multiple Indian languages.
Silent Era Recreated at IFFI 56
NFDC Managing Director Prakash Magdum emphasized that the idea behind the screening was to revive the authentic silent-film experience — complete with live musical accompaniment, just the way audiences enjoyed cinema in the 1920s.
Music composer Rahul Ranade, who led the live performance, said it was both an honour and a challenge to recreate the musical atmosphere of a film made nearly a century ago. “I hope I and my team will do justice to the spirit with which Baburao ji made this film in 1927,” he shared.
Muraliwala, directed by the legendary filmmaker and artist Baburao Painter, is among the few surviving Indian silent films — a rare archival treasure restored with extreme care. Adding emotional depth to the occasion, Baburao Painter’s two daughters were present during the screening.
A Ceremonial Year of Tributes
This year’s curation carries significant historical weight, marking:
- 125 years of V. Shantaram
- 100 years since the birth of Guru Dutt, Ritwik Ghatak, Raj Khosla, Bhupen Hazarika, P. Bhanumati, Salil Choudhury, and K. Vaikunth
- 50 years of NFDC, a pioneer in India’s new wave cinema
The festival features special tributes, including Shyam Benegal’s Susman, spotlighting the master filmmaker’s enduring impact on Indian storytelling.
National Film Heritage Mission: Preserving India’s Film Legacy
Launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, NFHM is India’s most ambitious film preservation initiative. Its mandate covers:
- Preservation and conservation of camera negatives and prints
- Digitization and restoration
- Sourcing rare materials from rights-holders and global archives
Many of the restored films screened at IFFI 2025 were completed with active involvement from filmmakers and cinematographers or their families, ensuring accuracy and respect for the original vision.
Highlights include:
- Subarnarekha (Ritwik Ghatak) restored from the 35mm master positive
- Umrao Jaan (Muzaffar Ali), restored from release prints under Ali’s supervision after the original negative deteriorated
- Gaman, Pyaasa, C.I.D, Ek Hota Vidushak, Githanjali, and more — each restored with precision
This large-scale curation reinforces India’s commitment to safeguarding its cinematic heritage.
List of Restored Films curated for Indian Panorama Special Package
Githanjali (Mani Ratnam/Telugu/137 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Umrao Jaan (Muzaffar Ali – Hindi/145 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Malliswari (B.N. Reddi/Telugu/175 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Rudaali (Kalpana Lajmi/ Hindi/128 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Gaman – (Muzaffar Ali / Hindi/119 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Fear (Ritwik Ghatak/Hindi/18 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Subarnarekha (Ritwik Ghatak/ Bengali/143 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Murliwala – (Baburao Painter/ Silent/ 45 mints)
Party (Govind Nihalani/Hindi/118 Mins/ 2K DCP)
C.I.D (Raj Khosla/Hindi/146 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Pyaasa (Guru Dutt/ Hindi/146 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Ek Doctor Ki Maut (Tapan Sinha/Hindi/122 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Ek Hota Vidushak (Jabbar Patel/Marathi/168 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Kireedam (Sibi Malayil/ Malayalam/ 124 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (V. Shantaram/ Hindi/ 100 Mins/ 2K DCP)
Susman (Shyam Benegal/ Hindi/ 140 Mins/ 2K DCP)
Musafir (Hrishikesh Mukherjee/ Hindi/127 Mins/ 4K DCP)
Shaheed (Ramesh Saigal/Hindi/ 1948/ 4K DCP)
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