MUMBAI: Hollywood filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan on Friday lauded veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan for his contribution in the direction of the preservation of film heritage.
During a digital showcase, Bachchan was bestowed with the FIAF Award for his dedication and contribution to the preservation of the world’s film heritage by the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF).
In a particular video message, Scorsese stated Bachchan’s advocacy for preserving India’s film heritage has been actually distinctive.
“In a career spanning over five decades, he is a celebrated actor, who has put his considerable weight and his reputation behind the cause of film preservation in India and the entire subcontinent,” the 78-year-old director stated.
Scorsese, identified for cult traditional films comparable to ‘Taxi Driver’, ‘Mean Streets’, ‘Goodfellas’, and ‘The Irishman’, stated film preservation has definitely been a very long time ardour for him.
“Twenty years ago, I was proud to be the first recipient of this prestigious award. FIAF awards could not have chosen a more deserving individual to recognise this year,” he added.
Nolan, who can also be a previous recipient of the FIAF Award, hailed Bachchan as a “living legend”. “Mr Bachchan, I hope you realise the importance of everything you have done for the vital work for the development of proper infrastructure for the preservation of India’s incredible film heritage,” the ‘Tenet’ director stated.
“This is unbelievably important work and your voice, reputation behind this cause adds so much and makes it so much more possible. For all these reasons, I express my gratitude to congratulate FIAF everybody involved with this award and everything you have done so far and you will do in future,” he added.
Bachchan is the primary Indian film persona to be bestowed with the award and he stated he’s deeply honoured to have been chosen because the recipient of this 12 months’s award. “This is a great honour. Not just the film industry in India, but my own country will be proud. I am just a small element in the Indian film industry. When you honour me, you honour the Indian film industry, you honour my country and you honour this cause of film preservation,” he added.
Bachchan, who’s the ambassador of Film Heritage Foundation, stated as an artiste it’s his obligation to protect what they’ve created. “Our work represents a lifetime of passion, devotion to our craft and we need to ensure we preserve this legacy in memory of all those who came before us and in recognition of moving image as an art form, a visual document of humankind,” he stated.
The 78-year-old veteran stated India is “the largest filmmaking nation” and it will likely be an incredible loss for the nation if it “cannot preserve we have been creating for the past 100 years”.
“It is an indeed important element in our lives, we will be dead and gone, and we will have to do something for posterity,” he added.
The ‘Gulabo Sitabo‘ actor recalled his earlier conferences with each Nolan and Scorsese. “I have had the great honour of meeting him (Nolan) and I had also met Mr Martin Scorsese some years ago at the Cannes film festival, I don’t think he remembers. Baz Luhrmann had brought his film ‘The Great Gatsby’ for the inaugural of the Cannes Film Festival. And at a dinner that was hosted and that’s where we met.”
The FIAF is a worldwide organisation, comprising film archives and museums from the world over. Bachchan’s identify was nominated by the FIAF affiliate Film Heritage Foundation, based by filmmaker and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur.
The not-for-profit organisation is devoted to the preservation, restoration, documentation, exhibition, and examine of India’s film heritage.
