RESHMI YADAV, OP
Bhubaneswar: Odia cinema has come a long way, and there’s a need to preserve this cultural heritage, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Wednesday. He said this while gracing the opening ceremony of the 10th Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop India (FPRWI) 2025, organised by the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) in collaboration with the International Federation of Film Archives, which was inaugurated at Kalabhoomi – Odisha Crafts Museum, Bhubaneswar. The week-long international workshop will run till November 19, marking the first time the prestigious programme is being hosted in Odisha. The event, held in partnership with the state govt’s Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts and Tourism departments, was attended by legendary actress Waheeda Rehman as Guest of Honour and the CM as Chief Guest.
Filmmaker and former MP Prashanta Nanda, actor-MLA Sidhant Mohapatra, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, and other dignitaries from the film fraternity and cultural institutions were also present. FHF founder Shivendra Singh Dungarpur welcomed the guests and highlighted the importance of preserving India’s cinematic heritage. A live message from Amitabh Bachchan, FHF’s brand ambassador, added star power to the inauguration. Addressing the gathering, the CM said, “Odia cinema has come a long way, and it is our responsibility to preserve this cultural heritage. The state government will extend full support to the FHF to ensure our cinematic legacy lives on.”
Waheeda said, “I congratulate Shivendra Singh Dungarpur and his team for their incredible work. Even if we are not here tomorrow, these memories will be preserved forever.” The inauguration also saw the release of the official workshop poster and felicitation with Champions of FHF to Robin Bekaert, Sanjay Patnaik, and Surya Deo for their contribution to film preservation. The evening concluded with a spellbinding Odissi recital choreographed by Padma Shri Ileana Citaristi, dedicated to Odisha’s weaving traditions.
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