A Dream Realized: Neville Tuli’s Living Legacy
New Delhi Film Foundation (NDFF) celebrates the launch of Tuli Research Centre’s landmark digital platform on Indian visual arts and cinema. The event brought together leading voices in the fields of art, history, and film. NDFF engaged in meaningful dialogues with curator Neville Tuli, film historian S.M.M. Ausaja, and media strategist Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, exploring future collaborations to advance shared cultural and cinematic goals. Neville Tuli’s visionary approach seeks to democratize access to India’s artistic and cinematic heritage through thoughtful curation and research. A report by NDFF Desk.
The New Delhi Film Foundation (NDFF) recently joined the launch of tuliresearchcentre.org, an ambitious and visionary project by the Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (T.R.I.S.), spearheaded by cultural entrepreneur Neville Tuli. This digital platform is a groundbreaking archive offering free and open access to an expansive visual-textual knowledge base spanning Indian fine arts, cinema, photography, architecture, and cultural thought.
The event witnessed the culmination of Tuli’s over three-decade-long journey in shaping autonomous cultural institutions. From HEART (1995–99) and Osian’s Connoisseurs of Art (2000–2021)—which famously launched the Osian Cinefan Film Festival in Delhi—to the Vanraja Sanctuary & Hospice, his work has consistently championed the fusion of archival preservation, education, and intellectual freedom.
The highlight of this launch is tuliresearchcentre.org, a pioneering knowledge platform developed through thousands of manually structured Excel sheets transformed into a powerful search and filter engine. Version 1.0 already features over 100,000 visual and textual objects, with future updates promising customized curricula and deeper academic engagement.
What began as Neville Tuli’s dream to preserve and democratize India’s cultural legacy has now blossomed into a living, breathing archive — a testament to his unwavering passion, vision, and decades-long devotion to the arts.
NDFF had the opportunity to interact with Neville Tuli at the event, engaging in a meaningful discussion about future collaborations, especially on shared goals of democratizing access to artistic and cultural legacies and promoting sincere filmmaking.
This new platform echoes NDFF’s own mission to foster creativity, critical thinking, and cultural dialogue. We look forward to exploring synergies with Tuli’s initiatives and building new pathways for interdisciplinary learning and artistic expression.
NDFF also exchanged thoughts with noted media strategist and cultural voice Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, exploring shared interests in film outreach and public engagement.
During the event, NDFF also had the opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation with noted film historian, author, and renowned archivist of vintage film memorabilia, Mr. S.M.M. Ausaja. The discussion opened up exciting possibilities of collaboration around film history, archival access, and educational initiatives aimed at preserving and celebrating India’s cinematic heritage.
S.M.M. Ausaja is one of India’s foremost film historians, authors, and collectors of vintage film memorabilia. His archival work includes rare posters, lobby cards, and photographs that span the golden eras of Indian cinema. He has authored acclaimed books such as Bollywood in Posters and played a pivotal role in preserving cinematic history through exhibitions, restorations, and collaborations with film institutions. His commitment to archiving and educating the public on India’s film heritage resonates strongly with NDFF’s own objectives.
The event not only celebrated the technological and intellectual leap represented by the new digital platform but also served as a confluence of passionate individuals working toward the preservation and elevation of Indian art and cinema. From discussions around archival collaborations and curated screenings to the need for film education at the grassroots level, the conversations reaffirmed a shared commitment to fostering a deeper cultural consciousness. For NDFF, such platforms are not only inspirational but instrumental in shaping a more connected and informed cinematic ecosystem for the future.
