IMPHAL, MAY 28: Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla said that “Manipuri cinema stands as a powerful medium of storytelling and cultural expression, reflecting the aspirations, struggles, identity and resilience of the people”.
The Governor was speaking while gracing the award presentation ceremony of the 16th Manipur State Film Awards (MSFA), 2024 Edition, at the Palace Auditorium of the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Imphal, today.
Organised by the MSFDS, the award is the highest state honour in Manipuri cinema and celebrates excellence, creativity and outstanding contributions to the film industry. The award aims to encourage artistic achievement, promote creativity and support the continued growth of the Manipuri film industry.
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As part of the event, the official award catalogue was released, and the gathering witnessed a demonstration of the Manipuri martial art form, Thang-Ta, by the Huyen Lallong Manipur Thang-Ta Cultural Association.
The MSFDS Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 was conferred on Ngangbam Swarnajit Singh by the Governor of Manipur, in recognition of his pioneering role as Manipur’s first professional artist in cinema. The Governor, along with the Chief Minister and the Minister, also distributed the awards in the non-feature and feature film categories to the winners.
Speaking at the event, the Governor of Manipur said that Manipuri cinema stands as a powerful medium of storytelling and cultural expression, reflecting the aspirations, struggles, identity and resilience of the people. He said the strength of Manipuri cinema lies in its rootedness, and urged young filmmakers to preserve local stories, languages, traditions and values while exploring new perspectives and innovative cinematic techniques. Governor appreciated the contribution of filmmakers, actors, writers, technicians, critics, researchers and all others associated with the growth of Manipuri cinema.
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Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh stated that cinema plays an important role in shaping human motivation and social values. He said that despite challenges and a smaller audience base, the Manipuri film industry should continue striving for growth and greater recognition beyond the state. He also expressed support for the promotion and strengthening of Manipuri cinema.