Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and veteran actress Waheeda Rehman joined the inaugural session of the 10th Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop in India (FPRWI 2025), organised by the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) and the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), at Kala Bhoomi in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
In his virtual address, Bachchan made a powerful appeal to the Odisha government to formulate a film preservation policy and take measures to safeguard classic Odia films for future generations.
Hailing Odia films, Bachchan said that without a preservation policy, many valuable works of eminent filmmakers like Nirad Mohapatra, Manmohan Mahapatra, Prafulla Sengupta, Nitai Palit, Parvati Ghosh and Prashanta Nanda are at risk of being permanently lost.
“If you love films and care about the future of our cinematic heritage, join us in our mission to save our films for future generations,” he urged.
🎬 At the 10th Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop India 2025, held at the Odisha Crafts Museum – Kala Bhoomi, Bhubaneswar, legendary actor and brand ambassador of the Film Heritage Foundation, Sri Amitabh Bachchan, addressed the gathering through a video message. He… pic.twitter.com/JJksvrhsIa
— Handlooms,Textiles & Handicrafts Department,Odisha (@HTH_Odisha) November 12, 2025
Inaugurating the event at Kala Bhoomi, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi responded by announcing that the state government will sign an agreement with the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) to undertake the restoration of Odia films.
Inaugurating the workshop, CM Mohan Charan Majhi announced that the state government will sign an agreement with FHF for the restoration of Odia films.
Waheeda Rehman also hailed Odisha’s rich cinematic history and emphasized the critical importance of film preservation.
The workshop, organized by the FHF and the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), will continue until November 19, featuring international faculty from institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the British Film Institute, who will train participants in various aspects of film preservation.
FHF Director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur said faculty from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the British Film Institute are participating in the workshop to impart training in every aspect of film preservation.
