Bollywood film Uri screened in Manipur after 20 years
After a ban of over 20 years, Bollywood film was screened in public for the first time in Churachandpur district of Manipur. Bollywood (Hindi) cinemas which were banned by the proscribed ‘Revolutionary People’s Front’ (RPF), an armed Meitei insurgent group in year 2000. The ban on Hindi movies was called by the insurgent group citing the negative impact of Bollywood movies on the state’s language and cultural heritage.
After, over two decades of ban, the Hmar Students Association (HSA) screened the famous Bollywood movie Uri: The Surgical Strike, challenging the diktat of RPF in banning hindi films. Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson of Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, said in a brief statement “It has been over two decades since a movie was screened in our town. The Meiteis have banned Hindi movies for a long time. Today’s move is to defy the anti-national policies of the Meitei groups and to show our love for India.”
We are starting to set up for tonight's Public screening of Bollywood Movie after two decades of Bollywood being banned by some Radical Meitei Groups. Come join us at HSA Campus, Rengkai from 7PM. pic.twitter.com/Wla0T0Xg6I
— Eljay Hmar (Mizo) (@JayJoute) August 15, 2023
The HSA organized the screening at a makeshift open-air theatre in Lamka, Churachandpur district. Large number of people gathered for the screening indicating the local population’s interest in Bollywood movies on the big screen once again.
The HSA aimed to showcase their opposition to the Meitei groups’ anti-national policies and convey their affinity for India through this cinematic act.
Hindi movies return to #Manipur ‼️
URI, becomes the FIRST Hindi film to be shown in 23 years after militants enforced a ban on it.
A tribal students’ body screens “Uri: Surgical Strike” in Churachandpur in defiance against the ban@Spearcorps @easterncomd pic.twitter.com/KQgtrsjTJs
— Levina🇮🇳 (@LevinaNeythiri) August 16, 2023
This revival of cinematic activity marked a departure from the long-standing ban on Hindi movies imposed by the a political wing of the proscribed People’s Liberation Army, a Meitei terror outfit. HSA’s successful attempt to screen Uri: The Surgical Strike was to challenge the restrictions placed on Hindi cinema in Manipur.
Released in 2019, URI: The Surgical Strike” is an Indian military action film directed by Aditya Dhar and produced by Ronnie Screwvala. The film is based on the real-life surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army against militant launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2016, following a terrorist attack on an Indian Army base.
URI is notable for being one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2019 and one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time.
Audiences loved the film for shedding light on the sacrifices and efforts of the Indian armed forces. The film’s success also underscored the popularity of patriotic and nationalist themes in Indian cinema.
