Bhubaneswar, Nov 4 (UDN): Odisha's ambitious plan to establish a State Film Archive to preserve its rich cinematic heritage is facing an uncertain future, with little visible progress nearly a year after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed for the project.
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As the agreement approaches its first anniversary on November 19, questions are mounting over administrative coordination, project implementation and the government's commitment to safeguarding the state's valuable film legacy.
The MoU was signed on November 19, 2025, between the Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC) and Mumbai-based Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) at Kala Bhoomi, the Crafts Museum in Bhubaneswar. The agreement was signed under the administrative framework of the Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department.
Under the proposed partnership, the state government was to provide the necessary infrastructure, while FHF, with support from Tata Trusts, would take responsibility for film preservation, restoration and related technical work.
However, the initiative appears to have encountered administrative hurdles before moving into its implementation phase.
Departmental confusion delays implementation
The project has reportedly been caught in a jurisdictional dispute over which department should oversee cinema-related activities.
The Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department is understood to have maintained that matters concerning cinema should fall under OFDC and the Industries Department. At the same time, uncertainty over OFDC's administrative positioning, particularly whether it should function under the Industries or Culture Department, has reportedly complicated the process.
The lack of clarity over departmental responsibilities appears to have affected coordination and delayed the next steps.
Although FHF organised a screening of the classic Odia film Maya Miriga as part of the initiative, there has been no clear indication of substantial progress towards making the proposed archive operational.
Trained professionals await an opportunity
The delay has also raised concerns among individuals who underwent specialised training in film preservation through FHF.
These trainees were expected to contribute their newly acquired skills to the proposed archive. However, with the project yet to take shape, their training has not translated into the intended professional opportunities.
The situation highlights a broader concern: without a functional institutional framework, Odisha risks losing valuable expertise as well as opportunities to preserve and restore its cinematic treasures.
Questions over MoU and administrative authority
Apart from the delay in implementation, questions have emerged over the administrative procedures followed while signing the agreement.
OFDC is a state public sector undertaking associated with the Industries Department. However, the MoU reportedly identifies the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department as the authorised signatory on behalf of the corporation.
This has prompted questions about the administrative approval or government order that authorised the official to sign the agreement on OFDC's behalf.
It remains unclear whether the arrangement was supported by a formal delegation of powers, approval from OFDC's Board of Directors or a specific government directive.
Clarity on these procedural aspects is essential to determine the institutional responsibility for taking the project forward.
Odisha's cinematic heritage awaits preservation
The prolonged uncertainty has renewed concerns over the state's efforts to systematically preserve its film heritage. From classic Odia cinema to rare film reels, photographs, posters and other archival materials, Odisha possesses a cultural legacy that requires specialised conservation and long-term institutional support.
Reports of progress in establishing film archives in smaller states, including Manipur, have further drawn attention to Odisha's slow movement on the initiative.
With November 19 marking one year since the MoU was signed, the government faces questions over whether the project has a definite implementation roadmap, a designated administrative authority and a clear timeline for becoming operational.
For Odisha's film fraternity and cultural heritage enthusiasts, the proposed State Film Archive represents more than an infrastructure project. It is an opportunity to protect the history of Odia cinema for future generations. Its continued uncertainty raises concerns that a significant cultural preservation initiative could remain confined to an agreement on paper.
