The
National
Film
Archive
of
India
(NFAI)
has
added
the
rare
and
socially
significant
Tamil
film
Ratha
Kanneer
(1954)
to
its
collection,
marking
an
important
step
in
preserving
India’s
cinematic
heritage.
Directed
by
Krishnan
Panju
and
written
by
Thiruvarur
Thangarasu,
the
film
is
regarded
as
a
landmark
work
of
progressive
Indian
cinema.
The
film
material
was
donated
by
Aparna
Subramaniam,
Film
Research
Officer
at
the
Film
and
Television
Institute
of
India
(FTII),
who
presented
eight
jumbo
reels
in
35mm
format
from
her
personal
collection
to
Prakash
Magdum,
Managing
Director,
National
Film
Development
Corporation
(NFDC),
in
Pune.
Starring
theatre
legend
MR
Radha,
Ratha
Kanneer
was
pathbreaking
for
its
bold
engagement
with
social
issues
such
as
caste
discrimination,
blind
faith,
ritualistic
practices,
and
the
stigma
surrounding
leprosy.
The
film
also
advocated
progressive
ideas
including
widow
remarriage,
making
it
a
powerful
reflection
of
reformist
thought
in
1950s
India.
Emphasising
the
importance
of
the
acquisition,
Prakash
Magdum
noted
that
no
film
archive
in
India
or
abroad
currently
holds
an
original
print
or
negative
of
the
film,
with
only
low-resolution
versions
available
online.
He
highlighted
the
critical
need
for
preservation
and
appealed
to
film
collectors
and
enthusiasts
to
contribute
to
NFAI’s
archival
efforts.
Expressing
her
delight,
Aparna
Subramaniam
said
the
film
belongs
at
the
NFAI,
where
it
can
be
preserved,
archived,
and
potentially
restored
for
future
generations.