Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mr. Uday Kumar Varma said the Ministry has taken three important initiatives as a part of the Centenary celebration of Indian Cinema which include formation of a Film Promotion Board to give one window clearances to filmmakers wanting to shoot in India, setting up of a museum of Indian cinema at Gulshan Mahal in Mumbai and formation of the National Film Heritage Mission to safeguard our film treasure for posterity. He was speaking on the occasion of inauguration of centenary package at the ongoing 43rd India International film festival, yesterday evening.

International Film Festival of India has introduced a special section from this year titled- SOUL OF ASIA: Cinema & Mysticism which was inaugurated a short while ago. The aim of the section is to screen films made on themes of Asian philosophies and philosophers, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen, Confucianism, Sufism and other ancient mystic. The section opened with the film Samsara directed by Pan Nalin.

In the meanwhile last evening a spectacular play on Dadasaheb Phalke unraveled the passion that pioneered silent cinema in India. The 20 minute production staged at the inaugural ceremony of this section featured his journey in all its ups and downs.

The various incidents of his life including pawning of his wife’s jewelry to make Raja Harischandra, his first feature film, his qualities of perseverance and perfectionism were brought out in the enactment along with the fact that he died in penury in Nasik.

The script of the play was written by Sharayu Phalke Sammanwar the great grand niece of Dadasheb Phalke and was designed by thespian M. S. Sathyu. This centenary package of 14 films includes Achyut Kanya, Sant Tukaram,, Pather Panchali, Meghe Dhaka Tara, Pyassa, Awaara and Pakeejah.