Reaffirming the Odisha government’s commitment to reviving the golden era of Odia cinema, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced that the state will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Film Heritage Foundation for the restoration and preservation of Odia films.

“Our Odia cinema is a symbol of our cultural heritage. It holds countless memories within it. When we strive to preserve it, these memories will come alive again, inspiring future generations,” said Majhi while inaugurating the 10th Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop – 2025 on Wednesday night.

The Chief Minister described the workshop as a timely initiative to safeguard the legacy of Odia cinema.

The 10th edition of the Indian Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop is being jointly organised in Bhubaneswar by the Department of Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts, Government of Odisha, the Film Heritage Foundation, and the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF).

The event has brought together renowned filmmakers, researchers, and preservationists from India and abroad. The inauguration ceremony was graced by veteran actress Waheeda Rehman, while Amitabh Bachchan joined virtually to extend his support and appreciation.

Addressing the gathering, Majhi emphasised that film preservation is not just a technical process but a cultural responsibility. He said the workshop would empower filmmakers and technicians while offering global exposure and guidance to the Odia film industry.

The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to the Film Heritage Foundation for restoring two iconic Odia films — “Kanaklata” (1973) and “Mayamrig” (1984).

Odisha Handlooms, Textiles, and Handicrafts Minister Pradeep Balsamanta said cinema mirrors the state’s social and cultural life. Preserving films, he added, ensures that the memories and artistic expressions captured in every reel remain alive for future generations.

In his virtual address, Amitabh Bachchan lauded Odisha’s rich cinematic tradition, which began in 1936 with Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami’s Sita Bibaha.

He also praised legendary Odia film personalities such as Nirad Mohapatra, Manmohan Mohapatra, Ghanshyam Mohapatra, Prafulla Sengupta, Nitai Palit, Parbati Ghosh, Prashant Nanda, Uttam Mohanty, Bijay Mohanty, and Jharana Das for their invaluable contributions.

Waheeda Rehman commended the Odisha government for taking a forward-looking step toward preserving the nation’s film heritage.

During the ceremony, Robin Baker received the Outstanding Film Heritage Award, while Sanjay Pattnaik and Surya Deo were honoured with the Champion of Film Heritage Award for their significant contributions to cinema.

Among those present were Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director of the Film Heritage Foundation; Siddhant Mohapatra, MLA and popular Odia film star; Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, former MLA and filmmaker Prashant Nanda and several other eminent figures from the film fraternity.