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Entertainment
Manipur Film Pioneer’s 15 Rare 8mm Reels to Be Preserved Internationally
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 08 Aug 2026, 01:18 PM
👁 5
15 rare 8mm film reels created by Manipur's pioneering filmmaker Maharaj Kumar Priyabrata Singh are scheduled for preservation at an international facility, ensuring the survival of early Indian cinema heritage.
The National Film Archive of India has announced that 15 rare 8mm reels produced by Manipur film pioneer Maharaj Kumar Priyabrata Singh will undergo digitisation and restoration at an international preservation facility.
Singh, who began shooting in the 1950s, is credited with bringing Manipur’s folk narratives to the silver screen. The reels, shot on 8mm film stock, capture scenes from early Manipur cinema that are otherwise lost.
The restoration process will involve cleaning the physical reels, converting the footage to high‑definition digital format, and archiving the material in climate‑controlled vaults.
Experts say the project will safeguard a vital part of India’s cinematic history and make the footage accessible to researchers and the public worldwide.
Singh, who began shooting in the 1950s, is credited with bringing Manipur’s folk narratives to the silver screen. The reels, shot on 8mm film stock, capture scenes from early Manipur cinema that are otherwise lost.
The restoration process will involve cleaning the physical reels, converting the footage to high‑definition digital format, and archiving the material in climate‑controlled vaults.
Experts say the project will safeguard a vital part of India’s cinematic history and make the footage accessible to researchers and the public worldwide.