Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Pakeezah 4K Restoration to Premiere at International Film Festivals
Pakeezah is a famous Indian movie made in 1972.
Its film materials became badly damaged over time.
Shivendra Singh Dungarpur and his team spent two years restoring it in 4K.
They used surviving film copies, photographs and memories from the director’s family.
The team worked carefully to repair the pictures and bring back details such as the colours of Meena Kumari’s costumes.
The restored movie will be shown at film festivals in Lyon and London.
Dungarpur says the film’s beauty and detail will amaze people.
Film Heritage Foundation director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur says the two-year restoration of Pakeezah in 4K is complete.
The 1972 film’s original camera negatives had nearly melted, and surviving materials were affected by mould, faded colours and scratches.
The restoration team worked frame by frame with third-generation prints and other surviving film elements.
Kamal Amrohi’s children contributed family photographs and memories to help restore details, including the colours of Meena Kumari’s costumes.
The restored film is scheduled for screenings at Festival Lumière in Lyon and the BFI London Film Festival.
- Who
- Film Heritage Foundation director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur and his restoration team, with help from Kamal Amrohi’s children.
- What
- A two-year, frame-by-frame 4K restoration of the film Pakeezah.
- When
- The restoration took two years; the film was released on February 4, 1972.
- Where
- The restored film is scheduled to screen at Festival Lumière in Lyon and the BFI London Film Festival.
- Why
- The restoration aimed to preserve and restore the classic despite the poor condition of its surviving film materials.
- Film
- Pakeezah
- Director
- Kamal Amrohi
- Release date
- February 4, 1972
- Restoration format
- 4K
- Restoration duration
- Two years
- Screenings
- Festival Lumière in Lyon and the BFI London Film Festival
- Restoration challenges
- The camera negatives had almost melted; surviving materials had mould, faded colours and scratches.