The National Film Development Corporation – National Film Archive of India (NFDC-NFAI), under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has completed a comprehensive 4K restoration of legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak's entire feature filmography. This archival achievement was executed under the National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM), the ministry's flagship initiative for safeguarding India's audiovisual legacy. The restoration project involved utilizing original film elements preserved by NFDC-NFAI over decades, supplemented by resources from the West Bengal State Film Archive.
The color grading process was directly supervised by National Award-winning cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhyay to ensure visual authenticity and adherence to Ghatak's original cinematic vision. Mukhopadhyay expressed pride in participating in the restoration of Ghatak's work, noting the filmmaker's national and international significance.
To commemorate Ghatak's birth centenary, NFDC-NFAI has partnered with the British Film Institute (BFI) to present a landmark retrospective at BFI Southbank in London commencing June 2026. The comprehensive showcase will feature the eight newly restored 4K presentations of Ghatak's seminal narrative features: Nagarik, Ajantrik, Bari Thekey Paliye, Meghe Dhaka Tara, Komal Gandhar, Subarnarekha, Titas Ekti Nadir Naam, and Jukti Takko Aar Gappo. The program will also screen his shorter format works, documentaries, and rare incomplete pieces including Bihar Ke Darshaniya Sthan, Musafir, Fear, Rendezvous, Nagarik Sanrakshan, Scientists of Tomorrow, Yeh Kyun, My Lenin, Puruliar Chhau, Durbar Gati Padma, Heerer Prajapati, Chinnamul, Ramkinkar Baij, Rounger Golam, and Bagalar Banga Darshan.
Prakash Magdum, Managing Director of NFDC, emphasized that India possesses one of the most vibrant cinematic legacies globally and that NFDC-NFAI is mandated to restore and preserve these assets to the highest global standards under the NFHM. The collaboration with BFI provides a platform for the global film community to experience Ghatak's brilliance and witness India's archival achievements. NFDC-NFAI serves as India's premier institution for preserving cinematic heritage and has been a member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) since 1969. Its Research and Documentation Section houses extensive collections including over 2 lakh photographs, 40,000 film posters, 24,000 song booklets, and 2.28 lakh press clippings, much of which has been digitized for preservation.