I was flabbergasted when I heard recently that Manipuri digital movies
are banned. Some people think it's right thing to do while others think
it's wrong. Then who's right and who's wrong? Nobody knows. It has both
its pros and cons.
Yet as a Manipuri moviegoer we must try to sort it
out as soon as possible, because it's a fact that every society needs
some kind of entertainment. Since we all are engaged in our day to day
activities we need some sort of recreation.
Many people have hectic schedules and the burden of work pressure is much on their shoulder. So,
they also want to have a break and as a result they start looking for a
source that can make them forget their work pressure.
Not only such busy people but also the common people who don't have much obligation
towards work also require recreation. And it's well known that movie is regarded as the best way of recreation.
It's also regarded as the best medium to promulgate social awareness. Keeping this in mind we must endeavor
to save it from extinction from our state- Manipur.
Earlier Hindi movies were also banned in the state and it had such a
tremendous effect on movie theatres of Manipur that many theatres were
close down. And in turn it affected the economy of Manipur to some extent.
A section of Manipuri people were depended on movie theatres as they
derived their income from it. But by saying that the number of such
peoples was a meager one, the resolution to ban Hindi movies was not taken
back.
The people succumbed to the inevitable resolution of the few.
Many reasons were given that made Hindi movies to be banned. The question
of Indianisation and its dreadful effects on the moral of the youths of
Manipur was one of it.
But I don't want to discuss whether it was right
or wrong in this essay, instead I would like to focus on its
consequences. The time of banning Hindi movies was the time when Manipur began to
release Hindi movies with the other states.
It means Manipuri movie
theatres were developing but it was put to end. Many theatres turned into
shopping malls, rented apartment and even school.
In this way many
people were affected but they could not do anything, except suffer.
Eventually they find an approach to the development of Manipuri film
fraternity including the theatres. It was the introduction of digital
video movies in Manipur.
At first I would like to make what digital video
movies are all about clear. The digital video movies can be played in
theatres very easily by using a CD projector and it's not as costly as
the celluloid projector and also easy to handle.
The cost of making
digital video movies is much lower than the cost of making celluloid
movies. So it's quite useful for Manipur which is economically backward and
its movie industry market is also small.
It was a boon to Manipur
movie industry and its audience. Aspiring amateur film makers were also
coming in the scene of Manipuri movie industry. They made movies with
ease as the cost was not so high unlike celluloid movies.
The youths
with the aspiration of becoming actors in lives also had the opportunity
to realize their dreams. The movie market also came alive and many
people were getting benefits from it.
So, we can say without any doubt that
digital video movies were good for the Manipur and its people. And
banning it is not a good thing to happen for us. Before taking the crucial
decision we must study its impact on both Manipur and its movie
industry very carefully.
And take the resolution after much consideration. It
won't be wrong if we say the resolution is strangling Manipur movie
fraternity utterly and it's not a right thing.
And if we try to see it through other perspective, we get the other
feeling that it's right. You may think that I'm quite equivocal but that's
not the case. I'm forced to say like this because of the attitude of
some film makers who don't care about authenticity.
Many of them are
borrowing scripts, music etc. We can take it as some kind of plagiarism and
it's not a good thing to be encouraged by the audience. If we ponder on
this issue we'll start having the feeling that the resolution is the
right step to curb such undesirable attitude on film makers' part.
Take two different movies having the same song or composing songs with the
tune taken from other popular songs as an instance. Not only stealing the
tunes but also scripts, it's becoming outrageous and the audience can't
stand this shameful trend anymore.
They may say that they are inspired
instead of accepting their fault. So where can we find originality in
our very own Manipuri movies? Leave alone flaunting we can't even show
it to other non-Manipuri people.
Audience are expecting for good movies
which live up to the mark, which has some essence. Nobody wants to go
for meaningless and bad movies. Who will like to spend their money on
such movies which don't have any quality?
Instead of being entertained, the audience is disturbed and embarrassed of the fact that these are
Manipuri movies. It may sound really harsh to film makers but it's time to
stand up and notice the big mistake.
And Manipuri movie fraternity should take up some measures against such undesirable trend of film making
prevailing in Manipur.
But to ban it completely won't be the right way to deal with it. If we
don't stop acting in this silly and ridiculous way then there won't be
any kind of development.
I personally think the measure that is being
taken is not the last resort and it's a bit harsh. There are other
alternatives like we can lay down some objectives which are must to be
followed by the film makers while making a film.
It can be executed properly by establishing an independent committee to preside over the film
makers. They must be endowed the right to guide the film makers by asking
them to fulfill the laid objectives.
There may be also other alternatives which I couldn't conceive besides what I've suggested. We must not
forget that under our belt there are many great movies like Imagi ningthem,
Mayophigi macha, Chatledo eidi etc.
Film makers must try to invent new things and strive for the
authenticity. There are also problems when it comes to following new trend like
the moral police inspecting the costume and some gestures shown in
movies which are offending to some.
Instead of focussing on such things
which is the true picture of the present situation they must try to
encourage creativity. I don't mean to say that obscenity should be looked
through but we must have the enough grit to accept the truth.
But we are thinking that nobody sees us by closing our own eyes. We must get rid of
such thinking which is very conservative and give room to the film
makers and let them do their works.
It's really important to have free mind
in order to deliver the best thing or performance. I think this will be
the right approach towards the development of Manipuri movie industry.
We common people can't do anything except keeping our fingers crossed.
spartan_fx writes regularly to e-pao.net.
You can contact the writer at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on 29th August 2005.
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