**Executive Summary**
On January 9, 2026, renowned filmmaker Muzaffar Ali donated a rare 35mm release print of his award-winning 1986 Hindi film "Anjuman" to the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) - National Film Archive of India (NFAI) in New Delhi. The donation, formally handed over to Shri Prakash Magdum, enriches the NFDC-NFAI collection and supports ongoing efforts to preserve Indian cinema heritage. The event was covered by PIB Mumbai, and the document notes that Anjuman was extensively shot in Lucknow and focuses on women engaged in the chikankari craft.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Donation:**
* Muzaffar Ali donated a rare copy of his film "Anjuman" (1986) to NFDC-NFAI.
* The donation was a 35mm release print.
* The handover occurred in New Delhi on January 9, 2026.
* **NFDC-NFAI:**
* NFDC-NFAI's work under the National Film Heritage Mission is valuable for preserving film heritage.
* The archive can restore films for future generations.
* **"Anjuman" Film Details:**
* The film was an official selection of the Indian Panorama in 1986.
* It was part of the Vancouver and Tehran Film Festivals.
* The film was extensively shot in old Lucknow.
* It portrays the lives of women engaged in the chikankari craft.
* Lead actress Shabana Azmi sang her own playback songs.
* **Call to Action:**
* Shri Magdum appealed to all stakeholders in the film industry to come forward in saving film heritage by depositing films and film-related material.
**Impact Analysis**
**NFDC-NFAI**
* **Impact:** Receives a rare print of "Anjuman," enhancing their collection and enabling film preservation and restoration efforts.
* **Action Required:** Preserve and restore the donated film for future generations.
**Filmmakers and the Film Industry**
* **Impact:** Encouraged to preserve and protect film heritage
* **Action Required:** Deposit films and film-related material with NFDC-NFAI.
**Future Generations**
* **Impact:** Will be able to experience a wider range of film thanks to restoration and preservation efforts.
* **Action Required:** No action required.
Key Entities Referenced
National Film Archive of India (NFAI): Indian organization dedicated to preserving cinematic heritage.
National Film Development Corporation (NFDC): An Indian central agency established to encourage high quality Indian cinema.
Anjuman (1986): A Hindi film directed by Muzaffar Ali.
National Film Heritage Mission: An initiative to preserve India's cinematic heritage, implemented by NFDC-NFAI.
Muzaffar Ali: Renowned filmmaker who donated a rare copy of his film Anjuman.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Renowned filmmaker Muzaffar Ali donates rare
copy of Anjuman to NFDC–NFAI
प्रव तथ: 09 JAN 2026 4:22PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai : 9 January 2026
Renowned filmmaker Muzaffar Ali has donated a rare copy of his award-
winning Hindi film Anjuman (1986) to the National Film Development
Corporation (NFDC) - National Film Archive of India (NFAI). Shri Muzaffar
Ali formally handed over the 35mm release print of the film to Shri
Prakash Magdum, Managing Director, NFDC, in New Delhi. Shri Ali's
generous contribution to the ongoing efforts to preserve the heritage of
Indian cinema has further enriched the NFDC-NFAI collection.Anjuman was an official selection of the Indian Panorama in 1986 and was
also part of the prestigious Vancover Film Festival and Tehran Film Festival.
The film was extensively shot in old Lucknow, with principal
cinematography by Ishan Arya. Despite being screened at several
international film festivals, the film did not receive a theatrical release.
Shri Ali said, “I think the NFDC-NFAI’s work under the National Film
Heritage Mission is extremely valuable for the film world, especially for
filmmakers. The celluloid medium is very fragile. When the image starts
fading, it is heartbreaking, because every frame is crafted with such care
for colour and design. Losing that beauty to time is terrible. NFDC’s work
in the field of preservation and conservation is like a breath of fresh air.
This isn’t a business, it’s about building bridges. Only the larger vision of a
nation can make this happen.”
He added that, “If I donate my film reels, I see a future, not just for the
film, but for the many hungry eyes who would like to experience the
beauty of Anjuman. For me, Anjuman is an exquisitely coloured, crafted
cinematic document, and losing it would be a terrible thing. Now it’s a
relief to see that these films can find a future, that they can be restored by
the NFDC–National Film Archive of India. The least I could do was to work
with the Archive and offer my print.”
Shri Prakash Magdum said that it is very important to preserve the
country’s cinematic heritage for future generations and the National Film
Heritage Mission of the Government of India, implemented by NFDC-NFAI
is a major step towards that direction. While thanking Shri Ali for donating
a copy of the film for preservation, Shri Magdum appealed all stakeholders
in the film industry to come forward in saving film heritage by depositing
films and film related material.The film holds a unique place in Indian cinema history for several artistic
milestones. Notably, lead actress Shabana Azmi sang her own playback
songs for the film under the music direction of Khayyam, with lyrics by
Shahryar and the late Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The film sensitively portrays the
lives of women engaged in the chikankari craft of Lucknow and highlights
the socio-economic exploitation faced by artisans despite the finesse of
their work.
PIB Mumbai | Nitin Fulluke/Priti Malandkar
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