Rajya Sabha MP K Bhabananda on Wednesday made a clarion call to those concerned who are banning Hindi cinema for quite a long time to reconsider and review their diktat for the larger interest of the movie lovers of Manipur. Bhabananda was speaking at the inaugural function of Thangal Cinema held at Dolby Digital Pro-Logic Movie Theatre at Thangal Bazar. Director, IPR, Government of Manipur, Meghachandra Kongbam also graced the occasion.
Confessing that though he hardly is an expert in the movie circuit, the Rajya Sabha MP appreciated the concept of Thangal Cinema and its initiative towards promoting cinema. He said, “The arrival of a film craze in the state today with the film-stars considered as icons is really a good sign for the development of Manipuri cinema.”
Owned by filmmakers, M C Binod, Bishwamitra Sharma and Basanta Sharma, Thangal Cinema was launched with the sole purpose of encouraging the cinema-lovers of Manipur to watch more films apart from promoting cinema in the market and striving hard for the cause of developing Manipuri cinema at a much higher level than its earlier status.
While highlighting the fact that as cinema is a very powerful audio-visual medium in the global arena and for screening films, halls are essential, he said, “Life span of some cinema halls in Manipur are cut short by the banning of Hindi films. Let’s try to open the doors to the film market and industry so that we can learn and develop films with the help of our talented artists”.
Speaking on the occasion, M C Binod urged the state filmmakers to be more passionate to their craft.
Those present also expressed serious concern over the piracy of movies in the form of cheap CDs sold in the streets at just Rs 10 per piece.