Hindi Film To Be Screened in Manipur After 20-Year Ban

Guwahati: In a significant development, a Hindi film will be screened in Manipur after over twenty years, coinciding with Independence Day celebrations. The screening, organized by the Hmar Students’ Association (HSA), is set to take place in Churachandpur district’s Rengkai (Lamka) area. While the film’s title hasn’t been disclosed, the event aims to showcase solidarity against historical subjugation by insurgent groups.

The HSA released a statement late on Monday, announcing their plan to publicly screen a Hindi film on Tuesday to commemorate India’s Independence Day. The move is a stand against terror groups that have long oppressed tribal communities, with a call to unite in the struggle for freedom and justice.

This marks the end of a prolonged ban on Hindi film screenings in Manipur, which had been imposed by the Revolutionary Peoples’ Front (RPF) in 2000. The decision was influenced by concerns that Bollywood content might negatively impact the state’s language and cultural fabric. The ban’s inception led to the destruction of numerous Hindi video and audio materials.

The last Hindi film shown in Manipur was ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ in 1998. The upcoming screening is not just a cinematic event but a declaration of independence from anti-national terror groups that had previously called for a boycott of Independence Day festivities.

This development signifies a renewed willingness to embrace Hindi cinema while asserting cultural identity. It reflects a tangible step towards reclaiming artistic and cultural freedom after two decades of restriction.