The National Film Development Corporation – National Film Archive of India (NFDC-NFAI) has recently acquired a priceless record collection from the late Shri. Suresh Chandvankar is a renowned scientist, archivist, and musicologist.
This remarkable donation, made by the Chandvankar family, represents a major enrichment of India’s musical heritage and is set to benefit future generations.
Suresh Chandvankar, who passed away earlier this year at 71, dedicated his life to collecting, preserving, and sharing India’s rich audio history. Starting in the 1970s, Chandvankar began his passion project by amassing 78 RPM records, which evolved into an extensive and invaluable collection over the decades. His contributions to safeguarding Indian music history included co-founding the ‘Society of Indian Record Collectors’, where he collaborated with fellow enthusiasts to document rare recordings and the stories behind forgotten artists. His insights were widely published, ensuring the preservation of India’s musical legacy.
The Chandvankar family’s donation to the NFDC-NFAI includes a wide array of shellac and vinyl records, carefully collected and preserved by Chandvankar. His family, including his wife Smt. Prerana Chandvankar and daughter Smt. Rucha Chandvankar, visited the NFDC-NFAI to witness the ongoing cataloging and preservation efforts. They expressed their joy at fulfilling Chandvankar’s wish for his collection to be housed in a prestigious institution, ensuring its continued preservation and public access.
In a statement, the family said, “Suresh Chandvankar was deeply passionate about music and gramophone records. He dedicated his life to preserving this important part of India’s cultural history and wanted his collection to be accessible to all. We are honored that NFDC-NFAI will continue his work and keep his legacy alive.”
The NFDC-NFAI expressed immense gratitude to the Chandvankar family for their generous contribution. This collection promises to be a valuable resource for researchers, historians, and music lovers, ensuring that Suresh Chandvankar’s lifelong passion will inspire future generations.
This donation aligns with NFDC-NFAI’s ongoing commitment to preserving India’s cinematic and musical heritage, promoting accessibility, and supporting research initiatives. Through this collection, Chandvankar’s pioneering work will continue to resonate and enrich India’s cultural landscape.
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