Karnataka govt forms panel to establish repository to preserve Kannada films

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday formed a panel of technical experts to establish a film repository to preserve Kannada films. 

The repository will be established at a cost of Rs 3 crore to preserve Kannada films that reflect social, historical and cultural values in digital and non-digital formats, according to a press statement released by the Department of Information and Public Relations. 

A grant of Rs 25 lakh has been released to form a delegation of technical experts for conducting supplementary studies and gathering information through visits to Pune, Mumbai, Kerala and other places that already have a film archival cell. 

The delegation is advised to assess the necessary infrastructure, equipment and other requirements for implementing the film repository. It will also prepare guidelines to collect films in both digital and non-digital formats. 

The delegation will be headed by the Commissioner of Information and Public Relations Department. The members include Mehboob Pasha, Chairperson of Sri Kanteerava Studio Ltd; Sadhu Kokila, president of Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy (KCA); film producer Jayanna; film colourist Ramamurthy of Prasad Lab; and members of KCA, Savitri Majumdar, Chidananda Patel, also a senior journalist, and Nikhita Swamy S, Joint Director (Photography and Film Branch) and Registrar of KCA. 

In 2017, the KCA had announced that it will restore and digitise about 1,500 Kannada films. The BDA had reportedly released Rs one crore to fund the restoration project. However, the funds were taken back when there was no progress. At the KCA office in Nandini Layout, an entire floor is dedicated to archiving and restoring films.