:: IFFK 2008 ::

An Interview with P.K. Nair, former founder Director of National Film Archive India

Passion and perseverance for film took P.K. Nair, the founder director of The National Film Archive India (NFAI), to every corner of the country for the treasure hunt of film prints. The film lovers of India owe him a lot for his massive contributions towards preservation of old classics. He is one of the pioneers behind developing a film culture in India. Neither his age nor his fading health stops him from being at every film festival around the country. Some moments with this great personality…

AW: Sir, can you narrate the experience of the journey from an archive curator and director?

PKN: It’s a long journey. Before I found archives, I started my career as one engaged in setting up the syllabus, book and film library for the Film and Television Institute of Pune (FTII) in 1961. Officially NFAI was set upin 1965. The main objective of it was to develop a film heritage in our country. There existed a lot of misunderstandings on films among the people and I think it is still continuing to an extent. First we collect the films, winner of national awards and then the world classics were also brought. It helped Indian film lovers to get an exposure on such films. The timeless works of Roberti Rossellini, Vittorio de Sica, Kurosawa and Ingmar Bergman were among the among them.

AW: In India, the foreign films are getting a wider recognition. Do you think that Indian films get the same treatment outside?

PKN: We can’t say that it does not get much attention outside. The works of Satyajit Ray are acclaimed universally. There are lots of good films made in India. But there is no authority to promote them among the foreign viewers. Nobody is willing to take such task because it needs a lot of work to perform. A simple synopsis of a film is not enough. It needs a high quality picture, subtitles, credits and cast. There are so many things which have to be well handled. But unfortunately except the NFAI, nobody is ready for taking such responsibilities.

AW: You contribute actively in setting film appreciation workshop for the film students. What would you comment on the film involvement of the present generation? What advice would you want to give them?

PKN: Well, they are good enough. But the problem I found they are not giving much importance for the classics. As we can see, present films are having lot of things which these classics used to have. There are lots to study from those films. You have to look around and want to react to it. Life is around you. Catch it and express it well to the viewers, then you can be a good filmmaker.

AW: NFAI is now at a loss in all respects. What are the major reasons for this situation?

PKN: I am very upset to say that now the NFAI lacks a focussed authority. Collections are dwindling due to many reasons. A fine well-equipped hand can handle the issues. But unfortunately, there is nobody there to handle that well.

AW: You have written a lot articles on films but you have never attempted to write a book of the NFAI. Do you have a plan for it?

PKN: Yes, my articles would be compiled and will be released as a book. The work is going on. I think it will come out soon.