A substantial collection of home movies of renowned Manipuri dancer Savita Ben Mehta in 8mm and super 8mm film format is now part of the National Film Archive of India (NFAI), the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry said on Friday.
The 8mm and super 8mm film format is used to shoot private movies known as ‘home movies’, the ministry said in a release.
In an effort for preservation of the Manipuri dancer, NFAI is adding the personal collection of Kodachrome and Kodachrome II home movies of the celebrated artist for preservation.
Kodachrome and Kodachrome II were introduced in 1935 and 1961 respectively, specifically meant for amateur use, with the latter being superior to 'regular Kodachrome'.
According to the ministry, Manipuri classical dance depicts the amorous relationship between Lord Krishna and Radha, characterized by its use of graceful costumes, expressive and delicate postures. A peerless exponent of the Manipuri style of dancing, Savita Ben Mehta popularized it globally. She had the highest qualifications and honours in Manipuri dancing.
Interestingly she was born in Gujarat, educated in the Arya Kanya Vidyalaya of Baroda, and made a remarkable contribution in the field of ballet as Director and Choreographer.
“I am happy to receive such a significant collection of 8mm films, which itself is a rare addition to NFAI. It is widely understood that 8mm & super 8mm movies were prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s. This collection might have footage of her dance performances along with footage shot in North-East India. We would be digitizing these soon. I am thankful to the family of industrialist Jay Mehta, who is the nephew of Savita Ben Mehta,” said Prakash Magdum, Director, NFAI.
Mehta was proficient in many languages and the footages have her handwriting in the Meitei (of Manipur) language.
