**Executive Summary**
The National Film Development Corporation – National Film Archive of India (NFDC-NFAI) has announced the world premiere of the 4K restored version of Mrinal Sen’s 1977 Telugu classic, *Oka Oorie Katha*. The premiere is part of the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, held from July 3 to 11, 2026. Key screenings of the restored film are scheduled for July 4, 6, and 8, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Restoration Details and Standards**
* The film was meticulously restored in 4K resolution from a 35mm release print held in the NFDC-NFAI collection.
* Restoration was carried out under the National Film Heritage Mission, utilizing internationally accepted archival standards.
* The process aimed to enhance visual quality for contemporary audiences while strictly preserving the film’s original artistic integrity.
**Artistic and Cultural Significance**
* Directed by Mrinal Sen, the film is an adaptation of Munshi Premchand’s celebrated short story *Kafan*.
* The work is recognized as a defining piece of Indian cinema, portraying themes of poverty, social inequality, and human resilience.
* Though a regional Telugu film made by a director who did not know the language, it remains a highly regarded work that previously saw limited screening in India.
**Strategic Institutional Goals**
* The premiere marks a milestone for India’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in showcasing Indian film heritage on a global stage.
* The project reflects India’s growing leadership in the field of film preservation and restoration.
* Selection by the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival—one of the world's oldest film festivals—reaffirms India’s commitment to celebrating its cinematic legacy.
**Impact Analysis**
**National Film Development Corporation – National Film Archive of India (NFDC-NFAI)**
**Impact**
The successful restoration and international premiere strengthen the organization's reputation and reaffirm its commitment to the National Film Heritage Mission.
**Action Required**
The NFDC-NFAI must continue its ongoing efforts to conserve and promote India's cinematic heritage using high archival standards.
**Global Audiences and Film Enthusiasts**
**Impact**
International audiences are provided the opportunity to rediscover the diversity of Indian cinema through a landmark work presented in high-definition quality.
**Action Required**
Interested parties should attend the scheduled screenings at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on July 4, 6, or 8, 2026.
**Future Generations and Researchers**
**Impact**
The restoration ensures that important cultural legacies and landmark works of world cinema are preserved and accessible for future study and appreciation.
**Action Required**
None specified in the document, though the preservation efforts are intended for their long-term benefit.
Key Entities Referenced
National Film Heritage Mission: A national initiative dedicated to the conservation, restoration, and promotion of India’s cinematic heritage using archival standards.
National Film Development Corporation – National Film Archive of India (NFDC-NFAI): The primary government agency responsible for the 4K restoration and preservation of classic films from the national collection.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting: The central Union Ministry overseeing the National Film Heritage Mission and the NFDC-NFAI's restoration projects.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: A prestigious international film festival in the Czech Republic serving as the global platform for premiering restored Indian cinematic works.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
NFDC-NFAI’s 4K Restoration of ‘Oka Oorie
Katha’ Makes World Premiere at the 60th Karlovy
Vary International Film Festival
प्रव तथ: 05 JUL 2026 8:24PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai, July 5, 2026
The world premiere of the 4K restored version of acclaimed filmmaker Mrinal Sen’s
Telugu classic Oka Oorie Katha (1977) is currently underway at Karlovy Vary,
Czech Republic, in the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which is being
held from 3 to 11 July 2026.
The restored film is scheduled for screening at the festival on 4 July, 6 July and 8
July 2026. The selection of Oka Oorie Katha for its world premiere in a newly
restored 4K version by the National Film Development Corporation – National Film
Archive of India (NFDC-NFAI), under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting,
Government of India, marks another significant milestone for Indian film heritage onthe international stage. Recognised as one of the world’s oldest and most
prestigious film festivals, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has long
served as a distinguished platform for showcasing landmark works of world cinema.
The film has been meticulously restored in 4K resolution from a 35mm release print
preserved in the NFDC-NFAI collection as part of the organisation’s ongoing efforts
under the National Film Heritage Mission to conserve, restore and promote India’s
invaluable cinematic heritage using internationally accepted archival standards. The
restoration enables contemporary audiences to experience the film with enhanced
visual quality while preserving its original artistic integrity.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Prakash Magdum, Managing Director, National Film
Development Corporation, said “The world premiere of the restored Oka Oorie Katha
at the prestigious Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is a matter of immense
pride for India and a testament to NFDC-NFAI’s sustained commitment to preserving
the country’s cinematic heritage. Every restored film represents an important
cultural legacy for future generations and reflects India’s growing leadership in film
preservation and restoration. Showcasing restored Indian classics at leading
international film festivals enables global audiences to rediscover the richness and
diversity of Indian cinema”
Directed by the legendary filmmaker Mrinal Sen, Oka Oorie Katha is a powerful
adaptation of Munshi Premchand’s celebrated short story Kafan. The film is widely
acclaimed for its portrayal of poverty, social inequality and human resilience, and
remains one of the defining works in Indian cinema.
Kunal Sen, son of the legendary filmmaker, said, “My father would often start
finding faults with his own films a few years after it was made. I have never heard
him loosing his love for this film. It was challenging for him to make a film in a
language he did not know, and being a regional language film, it wasn’t widely
screened in India. My father would have been very happy to see it being restored by
the National Film Archive of India, and being screened in a Film Festival he loved.”
The world premiere of Oka Oorie Katha at the Karlovy Vary International Film
Festival marks another significant achievement for NFDC-NFAI’s film restoration
initiatives, further strengthening India’s presence on the global film heritage
landscape and reaffirming the country’s commitment to preserving and celebrating
its rich cinematic legacy.***
Sriyanka Chatterjee/Yash Rane/Parshuram Kor
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