National Film Archive of India has acquired surviving footage of the Indian silent film Bilwamangal from the Cinematheque Francaise, France.<br/><br/>The film produced in the year 1919 by the Elphinstone Bioscope in Calcutta later renamed as Madan Theatres Ltd, was directed by Rustomji Dotiwala. NFAI has acquired footage of 1948 feet length and 28 minutes duration.<br/><br/>This has been a wonderful addition to NFAI collection, said Shri Prakash Magdum, Director NFAI in a press conference today. NFAI will return the gesture by providing a digital copy of Indian silent film Jamai Babu (1931) directed by Kalipada Das as per mutual exchange policy under FIAF framework.<br/><br/>Bilwamangal is a landmark acquisition for NFAI, as there was no trace of work of studio of J F Madan, available in India till date. With this acquisition NFAI now possesses in its collection films representing three important Indian studios of the silent era – Madan, Kohinoor and Hindustan.<br/><br/>Each of these studios had a prolific output making nearly a hundred films each in the silent era. This acquisition is an important for NFAI at a juncture when they are in the process of implementing prestigious National Film Heritage Mission to safeguard Country's cinematic heritage.<br/><br/>The last silent films NFAI acquired were from Kolhapur during 1996, titled 'Murliwala', 'Sati Savitri' and 'Maya Bazar' directed by Baburao Painter. India has produced nearly 1300 silent films between 1913 and 1932, most of which were lost due to its Nitrate base. Nearly 28 silent films though incomplete, have been preserved in NFAI's storage facilities since then.<br/><br/>