Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the 10th Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop-2025 at Kalabhumi in Bhubaneswar, emphasising the importance of preserving Odia cinema heritage.
“Our Odia cinema is a symbol of our cultural heritage. Many memories are associated with it. When we are trying to preserve it, these memories will surely live on and the coming generations will get inspiration from it,” he said.
The workshop, organised jointly by the Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, Film Heritage Foundation, and International Federation of Film Archives, aims to empower filmmakers and provide global guidance to the Odia film industry. Renowned actress Waheeda Rehman and actor Amitabh Bachchan graced the occasion, highlighting Odisha’s rich film tradition dating back to 1936.
Majhi announced an agreement with Film Heritage Foundation to restore Odia films, including “Kankalata” (1973) and “Mayamiriga” (1984). The government will provide all possible cooperation to revive Odia films. The workshop will continue till November 19, featuring international faculty and screenings of restored classics.
Chief Minister said that film preservation is not just a technical task, it is a cultural responsibility. This workshop will empower our filmmakers and everyone associated with film and provide global guidance to our Odia film industry.
Minister for Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Pradeep Balasamant said that films are the image of our social and cultural life. By preserving them, our memories and cultural expressions can be kept alive in every reel that is being lost.
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan expressed his happiness for the organisation of this event by the Odisha government through virtual channels and said that Odisha has a rich film tradition. This tradition began in 1936 with the film Sita Vivah directed by Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami. He appreciated the contribution of legendary Odia film personalities like Nirad Mohapatra, Manmohan Mohapatra, Ghanashyam Mohapatra, Prafulla Sengupta, Nitai Palit, Parvati Ghosh, Prashant Nanda, Uttam Mohanty, Bijay Mohanty, and Jharana Das in the development journey of the Odia film world.
MLA and popular Odia film star Sidhhant Mohapatra, Bhubaneswar Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, former MLA and film director and actor Prashant Nanda, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Commissioner and Secretary, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, producer of the film Kankalata Ghanshyam Mohapatra and many other eminent personalities associated with film attended the event.
