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But when it comes to the walkabout, he leads us to the National Film Archives of India. 8216;8216;NFAI has a very special place in my life...

Amol Palekar
Film Archives, Pune

FOR actor-turned-director Amol Palekar, Pune is a city of memories and milestones: first came the summer vacations, then the involvement of the Film and Television Institute of India, and eventually, the decision to settle down here, rather than the hustle-bustle of Mumbai. 8216;8216;For all that, I have just three favourite spots here. One is the coffee house in the camp area, which my close friend Rajabhau Watve introduced me to. The second, along with most Puneites, is the University campus. A half-hour walk in the calm, green campus is a sure-shot stress-reliever. I go there very often,8217;8217; smiles Palekar.

But when it comes to the walkabout, he leads us to the National Film Archives of India. 8216;8216;NFAI has a very special place in my life. I have been coming here since the mid-70s, when the archives were housed in Jayakar8217;s lovely bungalow. even seen some of the most beautiful films here, some of them on the Movieola, a piece of equipment now extinct,8217;8217; reminisces Palekar. 8216;8216;Now I come here regularly for the FTII8217;s film appreciation course, which attracts students from all over the country. So I have been here in different times in different capacities.8217;8217;

That is not to say, however, that the NFAI only lulls Palekar into nostalgia. 8216;8216;The archives are a treasurehouse of Indian cinema, not just the Guru Dutts and Satyajit Rays, but much beyond that, to films like Sant Tukaram. But in today8217;s times, when the profit motive overrides all others, the institution just does not get the attention it deserves. Why, I even read that the government was contemplating closing down the archives because it doesn8217;t make money!

8216;8216;I am also perturbed by our own film industry8217;s apathy towards this place that has contributed so much to their success. If only all those who have benefited so much from the Archives 8212; be it Subhash Ghai or Jaya Bachchan or Shatrughan Sinha 8212; donated even a drop of their earnings to the archives, it would do wonders for its maintenance and upkeep. I have personally donated negatives and a print of all my films to the institute and keep telling my friends to do the same.8217;8217;

How does a brick-and-mortar building evoke so much passion? That could have something to do with the interactive sessions Palekar has had here. 8216;8216;We did a Marathi play based on Kurosawa8217;s Rashoman, a reversal of the norm. I saw the film here many times, and had long, interesting discussions with P K Nair, then the institute8217;s director, and Satish Bahadur, a professor of film appreciation,8217;8217; states Palekar as he looks up to a black-and-white poster of Sant Tukaram. That, after all, is where it all began8230;

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More