The screening was organised by the Hmar Students’ Association to express their opposition to a ban on Hindi films, imposed in September 2000
Imphal: After more than 20 years, Hiindi cinema returned to strife-torn Manipur when a Bollywood movie ‘Uri’ on surgical strikes against Pakistan, was screened at a makeshift open air theatre in Churachandpur. A special report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
The Vicky Kaushal-starrer ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ was seen by a large number of people at Rengkai (Lamka).
Before the screening of the movie, the national anthem was played at the open air theatre, located 63 km from the capital city.
Organised by the Hmar Students’ Association on Tuesday, August 15, the screening was a way to show their opposition to the ban on Hindi movies imposed in September 2000 by ‘Revolutionary People’s Front’, a political wing of the proscribed People’s Liberation Army.
“It has been over two decades since a movie was screened in our town. The Meiteis had banned Hindi movies for a long time.
“Today’s move is to defy the anti-national policies of the Meitei groups and to show our love for India,” Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson of Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, said in a brief statement.
The organisation describes itself as the voice of Kuki tribes.
Manipur has been the scene of widespread ethnic clashes between majority Meitei and tribal Kuki communities since May 3 and so far over 160 people have been killed.
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