Bhubaneswar, Nov 4: Odisha's proposed State Film Archive project appears to have remained stuck on paper, nearly a year after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed for its establishment. With November 19, 2026, marking one year since the agreement, questions are being raised over the project's progress, its present status and the government's commitment to preserving the state's cinematic heritage.

The MoU was signed on November 19, 2025, between the Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC) and Mumbai-based Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) at Kala Bhoomi, the Crafts Museum in Bhubaneswar, under the Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department.

Under the proposed arrangement, the state government was expected to provide the necessary infrastructure, while FHF, with support from Tata Trusts, was to undertake the work of film preservation and restoration.

However, the project reportedly ran into administrative complications just as implementation was expected to begin. The Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department reportedly maintained that cinema-related matters should be handled by OFDC and the Industries Department. Meanwhile, OFDC was said to be uncertain about its administrative position, including whether it would come under the Industries Department or the Culture Department.

The confusion over departmental responsibility has reportedly stalled the initiative. FHF had organised a screening of the classic Odia film Maya Miriga, but there has been no clear indication of substantial progress on the proposed archive since then.

The delay has also affected trainees who received film preservation training from FHF. They are reportedly waiting for the archive to become operational so that they can put their skills to use.

The situation has raised concerns over the lack of coordination and long-term planning for preserving Odisha's cinematic heritage. While smaller states such as Manipur have reportedly made progress in establishing film archives, Odisha's proposed project remains uncertain.

Questions have also emerged over the administrative authority behind the MoU. OFDC is a state public sector undertaking associated with the Industries Department. However, the agreement reportedly identifies the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department as the authorised signatory on behalf of OFDC.

This has raised questions about the government order or administrative approval under which a secretary of another department was authorised to sign the agreement on behalf of the corporation.

It is also unclear whether the signing authority was backed by approval from OFDC's Board of Directors, a formal order delegating powers or any specific government directive.

With the first anniversary of the MoU approaching, the absence of clarity over departmental responsibility, administrative approvals and implementation has put the future of Odisha's proposed State Film Archive under a cloud.