On Independence Day, a Hindi movie will be shown in the ethnically troubled Manipur for the first time in more than twenty years. The Hmar Students’ Association (HSA), a tribal organisation, has scheduled a Hindi movie screening for Tuesday night in Rengkai (Lamka), in the Churachandpur district. The title of the movie was not stated, though.
In a statement released after Monday’s midnight, the HSA said that on Tuesday, in honour of the nation’s Independence Day, they will play a Hindi movie in public.
“This is to show our defiance and opposition to terror groups which have subjugated the tribals for decades,” the statement added.
“Join us in taking a pledge to continue our fight for freedom and justice,” it further added.
According to the HSA, “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” from 1998 was the last Hindi movie to be shown in Manipur in a public setting. “Kashmir Files” and “Rocketry” were previously screened by the state government in Imphal for a small audience.
“We will be declaring our freedom from the anti-national terror groups who have announced a boycott of Independence Day,” the statement mentioned.
Revolutionary Peoples’ Front, a rebel group, put the ban on Hindi movie screenings in September 2000. According to officials, rebels burned 6,000 to 8,000 Hindi-language film and audio cassettes and compact discs gathered from stores in the state within a week of the ban being implemented on September 12.
Although the RPF provided no justification for the restriction in the northeastern state, cable companies claimed the militant organisation was concerned about Bollywood’s potential influence on the language and culture of the region.
