Imphal: After more than 20 years, a Hindi film was screened publicly in violence-hit Manipur for the first time on Tuesday.
To mark the 77th Independence Day, Hmar Students’ Association (HSA) screened the Vicky Kaushal and Yami Gautam starrer “Uri: The Surgical Strike” in a makeshift open air theatre at HSA campus Rengkai (Lamka) in Churachandpur district.
According to the tribal students’ organization, nearly 300 people witnessed the screening of the 2019 Bollywood movie on surgical strike against Pakistan.
The HSA on Monday said that the screening of Hindi film is to show their defiance and opposition to terror groups which have subjugated the tribals for many years.
“Join us in taking a pledge to continue our fight for freedom and justice,” the statement said.
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According to HSA, Hindi films have been banned in the northeastern state for over 20 years now.
The last Hindi film that was publicly screened, as we understand, in Manipur was ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ in 1998, informed the HSA.
The ban on screening of Hindi films was imposed on September 12, 2000 by valley-based group Revolutionary Peoples’ Front (RPF), a political wing of the proscribed People’s Revolutionary Army. However, the reason behind the banning of the Hindi film is not mentioned by the group.