Mumbai to have First Museum of Indian Cinema

Films Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India on 16 October 2012 announced its plan of establishing a National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC). The Museum would be located in the Films Division Complex, Dr. G. Deshmukh Marg, Mumbai and is predicted to come up by June 2013. The development of the museum was planned to mark the occasion of Indian Cinema that will complete its 100 years of journey from the day of first screening of Raja Harishchandra in 1913.

The Museum would come up in two different phases and developed at an initial budget of 120 crore Rupees. This museum would be serving as the monument of Indian cinema and the first phase of the museum would start functioning from May 2013, the very day of release of Indian first film, Raja Harishchandra. The first phase will be in a portion of Gulshan Mahal, the heritage building renovated recently in a total area of 6000 square feet.

To design the concepts and exhibits of the museum the ministry of culture has appointed National Council of Science Museums (NCSM). The Museum that is being developed will also showcase the technical aspects like screening and production of cinema and the social aspects covered by the Indian cinema in 100 years of its journey.

To guide NCSM, an advisory committee that is being headed by Shyam Benegal the renowned Indian filmmaker has been appointed. The Museum will portray the step-by-step-development of Indian cinema in different phases comprising silent films, studio period and the times when Indian Cinema show its stars and mega stars.