National Museum of Indian Cinema chronicles century old Journey: PM To Inaugurate NBCC Built Museum Building

Mumbai, 17 January, 2019 – Founded on an amalgamation of technology and amenities in a Victorian structure, constructed and refurbished by state-owned Navratna PSU, NBCC (India) Limited, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) will be a treat for historians, tourists and film buffs from across the world with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi set to inaugurate the complex on January 19.

Set in an elegant 19th-century heritage bungalow in South Mumbai, the project involved refurbishing the historic Gulshan Mahal and constructing the state-of-the-art NMIC building that has 5 floors and two Mezzanine floors accounting for a total built up area of 12,000 sq metres.

NBCC was able to complete the project despite facing challenges like the locality being a congested one, with barely any working space available. Apart from the space constraint, another major obstruction was restricted working hours along with regulated sound decibels. The movement and entry for the heavy vehicles was also restricted during day time.

Considering such factors, adoption of unconventional method of construction was the way ahead, which led to the incorporation of composite construction which offered the combined benefits of concrete and steel. In NMIC, pre-fabricated structural steel and deck sheets are the two components that are combined together for forming a composite structure. An engineering marvel, the NMIC project is NBCC’s first ever steel building structure.

Dr. Anoop Kumar Mittal, CMD, NBCC said, “We are immensely proud to construct and restore an edifice that will narrate the rich history of Indian Cinema. Completing a project that lies at the heart of a congested city, without compromising on the quality of construction, speaks volumes of NBCC’s capabilities and engineering expertise. We are grateful to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for letting us be a partner in showcasing India’s rich cinematic legacy to the public.”

In an endeavour to make the entire complex a potential ‘film hub’, the Victorian-Gothic era complex, which once drew luminaries to its musical soirées and cultural gatherings, is now well-equipped with modern amenities and facilities, including expansive auditoriums. In addition to this, the complex houses a multi-purpose hall that has been designed to be used as a movie preview theatre and for social functions, conferences and other seminars.

Another highlight of the project is its design features that involve a unique front elevation designed with inclined structural glazing supported by cable net with spiders and a glass façade which gives 3D view look to the structure. Besides adding aesthetics to the building, this unique feature, while giving an appearance of more space, allows more natural light to pass through the building making it highly energy efficient.

Keeping sustainability at the helm of all projects and initiatives, NBCC has also incorporated amenities like sewage treatment plant, water management system, along with usage of energy efficient construction material.

In the past for NMIC, NBCC has been bestowed with ‘IBC Award for Excellence 2014-15’ & ‘Award for Excellence in Built Environment’.

It is worth mentioning in the context that NBCC also undertook project to renovate the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, Indian Museum in Kolkata and is also involved in construction of Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology located in Greater Noida (UP).