Theatres and cinema returned to violence-hit Manipur on Tuesday after over 20 years when a Bollywood film on surgical strikes against Pakistan was screened at a makeshift open-air theatre in the states Churanchandpur.Uri screened in Manipur Uri: The Surgical Strike, starring Vicky Kaushal was attended by a massive gathering of Rengkai (Lamka).According to the officials, the screening of Uri was organised by the Hmar Students Association (HSA) to express its opposition to the ban on Hindi movies imposed in September 2000 by The Revolutionary Peoples Front, a political wing of the proscribed Peoples Liberation Army, a valley-based Meitei terror group.It said, “It has been over two decades since a movie was screened in our town. The Meiteis have banned Hindi movies for a long time.”Love for IndiaBriefing about this screen happening in Manipur, Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum said, “Todays move is to defy the anti-national policies of the Meitei groups and to show our love for India.”The organisation describes itself as the voice of the Kuki tribes.Interestingly, to keep the zeal high on Independence Day, the national anthem was played at the open-air theatre, located 63 km from Imphal before the screening of the movie.Since May 03, Manipur has been witnessing widespread ethnic clashes between the majority Meitei and tribal Kuki communities, killing more than 160 people and thousands have been displaced.On Monday, the HSA said the screening is to show our defiance and opposition to terror groups which have subjugated the tribals for decades.“Join us in taking a pledge to continue our fight for freedom and justice,” it appealed.Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was last movie screened The last Hindi film that was publicly screened in Manipur was “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” in 1998, said HSA.Officials said that within a week of the ban in 2000, rebels had burnt 6,000 to 8,000 video and audio cassettes and compact discs in Hindi collected from outlets in the state.Though the RPF gave no reason for the ban in the northeastern state, cable operators said the militant group feared the negative impact of Bollywood on the states language and culture.
