Imphal, May 17 : Film personalities of the state today were the latest to join the protest bandwagon against extortion by militant outfits of the state.
Transporters, labourers and rickshaw-pullers had staged sit-ins, launched strikes and demonstrated against monetary demands by insurgents since the past month.
Actors, producers and directors today staged a sit-in to protest against the demands made by an underground outfit and decided to appeal to the militants to withdraw the demand.
An outfit had some days back demanded money from five theatre owners, who screen only Manipuri films.
Unable to accede to the demand, the Film Forum Manipur stopped screening of films from last Monday.
The film fraternity sat in dharna at the Krishna Premi Oil Station at Yaikul in Imphal West from 10am to 4pm.
Playwright L. Dhanachandra Sharma said, “It will have a negative impact on Manipuri cinema which is still developing. So the best way one can bring an amicable solution to the problem is by appealing to the outfit to withdraw the demand in the interest of Manipuri films.”
Actress Lilabati Chanam felt that it was certainly a discouraging factor. “Cinema in Manipur is toiling hard for its survival. We want everybody to support and encourage us with positive thoughts and ideas and appeal to the outfit to withdraw its demand,” she said. Several others also echoed her views.
Manipuri films found prominence with Matamgi Manipur and it has come a long way since then.
The Manipuri film industry has entertained the audience with only a limited number of films owing to huge expenses. But the ban on Hindi films by the Revolutionary People Front came as a blessing in disguise because it gave birth to digital films in the state.
Imphal West superintendent of police L. Kailun said, “We have assured the film owners that they would be provided adequate security. We can provide full-proof security as the theatres are mostly located in Imphal.”
Telegraph India
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