In what will provide an opportunity to movie aficionados to undertake an absorbing journey of over a century of Indian cinema, the newly inaugurated the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) at the Film Divisions campus will remain open for public between 11 am and 6 pm every Sunday and Tuesday.
The NMIC — housed in two buildings, the New Museum Building and the 19th century historic palace Gulshan Mahal — which was inaugurated on by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday —opened for the first time on Sunday and it remained opened for the second day on Tuesday.
The NMIC provides a glimpse into Indian film history and help film students, film-makers, fans and critics to learn and understand cinema as a medium of artistic expression in the country and globally.
The museum has on display artefacts like vintage cameras, projectors, editing and recording equipments, costumes, photographs and other materials portraying the journey of Indian cinema since the dawn of Indian cinema in 1913 with the first full-length feature film, “Raja Harischandra” made by the legendary Dhundiraj Govind Phadke, known as Dadasaheb Phalke.
The New Museum Building has four Exhibition Halls which encapsulate: Gandhi & Cinema: it not only depicts the movies made on the life Mahatma Gandhi but also showcases the deep impact his life had on cinema. The Children’s Film Studio in the museum gives visitors, particularly children, an opportunity to explore the science, technology and art behind filmmaking. It offers hands on experience on various facets associated with making cinema like camera, light, shooting, experience of acting, etc. — presented in an interactive format.
The exhibits displayed include chroma studio, immersive experience zone, stop-motion animation studio, virtual makeover studio, etc.
The NMIC showcases the creative use of technology by Indian film makers over the years to produce cinematographic impact on the silver screen. It also showcases the charismatic kaleidoscopic presence of the vibrant cinematographic culture across India.
Gulshan Mahal is an ASI Grade-II Heritage Structure which has been restored as part of the NMIC project. The displays present here showcase the journey of over a hundred years of Indian cinema.