As a part of its Rs 600 crore National Film Heritage Mission,the information and broadcasting ministry will soon float a global tender for restoration and preservation of about 43,000 heritage films in government archives and in private collections.
The decision was taken at a review meeting of the National Film Heritage Mission on Wednesday.
We will soon issue a global expression of interest so that the work is up to international standards and state-of-the-art. The company that bags the project will require to suggest a revenue model so that the mission is self-sustaining after the plan period is over, an official who was at the meeting said.
The revenue models being discussed include one to charge for use of such films in publicity,film festivals and by researchers.
There are an estimated 9,000 films in the national archives but the Iamp;B ministry also wants to restore and preserve the huge cache of such films in private labs.