The initiative partners Habitat Centre with NFDC and NFAI, offering audiences classic films on 35mm prints. Its inaugural screening featured ‘Kranti’, with lyricist Santosh Anand attending as guest of honour.
In a celebration of cinema, celluloid and India’s rich cinematic heritage, the India Habitat Centre (IHC) launched its exclusive 35mm Film Club last evening in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC India) and the National Film Archive of India (NFAI). The launch marked a significant step towards preserving and celebrating the legacy of film exhibition on celluloid, while giving contemporary audiences an opportunity to experience the magic of 35mm projection on the big screen. The inaugural screening was a fitting tribute to one of Indian cinema’s most enduring legends—the late Manoj ‘Bharat’ Kumar— with his landmark blockbuster Kranti being screened for the audience. Released in 1981, the film remains remembered for its stirring narrative of patriotism, its memorable performances and its unforgettable music.
Adding further significance to the occasion was the presence of renowned lyricist Santosh Anand as the Guest of Honour. Anand, whose evocative lyrics have been an integral part of the Hindi film music tradition, was the writer of Kranti’s much-loved song “Zindagi Ki Na Toote Ladi,” which continues to resonate with generations of listeners. Speaking at the launch, Prof. (Dr.) K.G. Suresh, Director, India Habitat Centre, underlined the importance of preserving India’s cinematic legacy at a time when rapidly evolving technologies are transforming the way audiences experience films. He emphasised that cinema is not merely entertainment but an important part of the country’s cultural memory and heritage. Prof. Suresh also expressed his appreciation for the collaboration with Prakash Magdum, Managing Director, NFDC, recalling their meeting a few months ago at the 2026 Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), where the idea of strengthening engagement around film preservation and exhibition found a natural resonance. He thanked Magdum and the NFDC/NFAI for joining hands with IHC in making the 35mm Film Club possible.
Shadab Hussain, who heads the Programming Team at India Habitat Centre, highlighted the need to honour the legends who have shaped Indian cinema. The Film Club, he noted, is intended not simply as a nostalgic journey into the past but as a platform to ensure that the work of great filmmakers, actors, musicians, writers and technicians continues to be experienced and appreciated by newer generations. The launch of the IHC 35mm Film Club is therefore both a celebration and a commitment—a celebration of the artistry of an earlier era and a commitment to keeping the culture of cinema alive. At a time when streaming platforms and digital formats have transformed film consumption, the tactile and collective experience of watching a 35mm print offers audiences something increasingly rare. With its inaugural screening of Kranti, the Film Club has begun its journey by honouring a cinematic giant and celebrating the creative legacy of those who made Indian cinema what it is today. As the 35mm projector comes alive once again at India Habitat Centre, the initiative promises to reconnect audiences with the enduring magic of celluloid—and with the legends whose work continues to define the Indian cinematic imagination.
*Murtaza Ali Khan is an award-winning cultural critic, journalist, and academic. A jury member for the 69th & 70th National Film Awards, he has covered entertainment for The Hindu, The Sunday Guardian, and The Quint since 2008, with over 2,000 TV appearances as a media expert. He is also a film festival curator, translator of Hindujas and Bollywood, and a NETqualified journalism educator.
