Imphal, October 03: Even as the UNLF and the KYKL have announced its decision to ban the KCP (P) with immediate effect, the Film Forum, Manipur has exposed the agenda of the KCP (P) in banning digital films.

The KCP (P) had announced the ban of screening of digital films on charges that it erode the Manipuri culture and distort the culture and tradition of the land.

The ban came into effect from September 16 and was to be in force for 1 year.

However the KCP (P) later announced that the ban had been relaxed till October 1.Addressing a news conference today, spokesperson of the Forum, Ningthouja Lancha said that following the charges raised by the KCP (P) it had set up a preview committee to censor scenes which are not in consonance with the tradition and culture of the land.

However despite the changes made and the efforts to make digital films true to the culture of the land, the KCP (P), during the final stage of the negotiation, demanded a sum of Rs 3 lakhs to lift the ban, charged Lancha.

The KCP (P) even threatened the Forum members and artistes with dire consequences if their monetary demand was not met, informed Lancha.

"We have outrightly rejected the monetary demand.

Why should we pay such a huge sum and what is our fault," countered Lancha and added, "Our cultural heritage and social values cannot be sold".

It is now clear that the KCP (P) under the cloak of sanitising the Manipuri digital films is trying to fill its private coffer, said the spokesperson.

To protest such acts of intimidation and outright attempt to extort money under the garb of doing something beneficial for society, the Film Forum Manipur has ceased all film related works for three days from today.

A public meeting will be held on Thursday to discuss the situation.

Lancha further informed that the Manipuri digital films are popular not only in Manipur and its neighbouring States but also in Myanmar.

Even people from Laos are demanding these films, he claimed.

To meet the demand and study the possibility of widening the market, the Forum is set to conduct a market survey in South East Asian countries, informed Lancha.

Earlier while announcing its decision to ban digital films in Manipur, the KCP (P) had laid down certain regulations that the films should adhere to.

Following the announcement of the ban and the reasons furnished by the KCP (P), the Film Forum, Manipur had set up a Preview Committee to screen all the films before they hit the screen.

Lancha informed that so far 11 digital films have been screened and five are about to be released.

Seventy other such films are also in various stages of production.

Manipuri digital films came out in a strong way after Hindi film was banned in 2000 by the proscribed RPF.

Following the ban, a number of cinema halls in Imphal had closed down to be converted to shopping malls and even educational institutions.

However with digital films making a statement and able to capture the popular imagination of the people, cinema buffs began flocking back to the theatres.

Earlier, when the KCP (P) announced its decision to ban digital films for one year, the UNLF had made known its stand that completely banning such films was not in the fitness of things.

It had instead suggested ways in which the contents of the films could be improved so that it contains local flavour and reflects the culture and tradition of the people.

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