India launches national cine academy to bridge regional film worlds

Amid the bustle of Mumbai's cultural quarter, a modest crowd gathered as officials lifted the curtain on the Indian National Cine Academy. The ceremony felt less like a launch and more like a quiet pledge, with filmmakers from across the country exchanging nods that hinted at decades of parallel histories finally finding a common stage. Organisers spoke of a space where the myriad languages and traditions of India's cinema can meet, share lessons, and celebrate each other's achievements without the usual clamor of competition. The academy's charter emphasizes openness, joint projects and a shared archive, inviting directors, actors and technicians from every corner to sit at the same table. As the evening lights dimmed, the sense was that a new chapter was being written-one that might weave the country's rich tapestry of stories into a single, more visible narrative.