Imphal, Feb. 15: Shah Rukh, Hrithik, Abhishek, Aishwarya and Rani may be the heartthrobs of millions, but residents of Manipur would rather drool over Olen Meitei, Kamla Devi, Sonia Devi and Kaiku.
Giant hoardings and posters of these actors and actresses catch the eye as one enters Imphal. An enthusiastic film buff informs that Mollywood — derived from Hollywood, Bollywood and Tollywood — has been regularly churning out hits like Radha Rani, Kaorage (Let me forget) and Ahingba Phura (Living monument).
“Right now, about 90 films are awaiting release. The unavailability of theatres is delaying the release of these films,” says Ningthouja Lancha, spokesman for the Manipur Film Forum.
Lancha’s film Nongdi Tarakkhidare (But it never rains), which portrays social turmoil during ethnic clashes, won the best film award in the short and documentary category of the Indian Panorama section at the International Film Festival India in 2004. The film also won acclaim at the international film festival organised by Unesco and the Public Service Broadcasting Trust in New Delhi the previous year.
The only place from where recognition for the local film industry has not come is the government. Between 60 and 70 films are produced on an average every year and “reel stars” continue to draw bigger crowds than the “poll stars”. But the problems of the industry do not figure on the agenda of any political party.
“Elections are being held and political parties are offering virtually everything to everyone but the local film industry, which provides direct or direct employment to around 20,000 families,” laments a filmmaker.
The film forum has submitted several memoranda to the government, highlighting the difficulties faced by the industry, but has failed to draw its attention. Even the Opposition is nonchalant about the problems faced by Mollywood.
The mass appeal of Manipuri cinema ostensibly increased after a militant group banned Hindi films in 2000.
“Although the state has a long tradition of filmmaking — the first Manipuri film Matamgi Manipur (Contemporary Manipur) was produced way back in 1972 by Deva Kumar Bose — the state witnessed a surge of homespun movies only after 2000,” recalls Surjakanta Sarma, another filmmaker.
Manipur has 200 production houses and 10 studios at present.
However, the future is not as glossy as it appears in the giant hoardings that proclaim the latest releases.
The sector has yet to be recognised as an industry. Production houses are allowed only temporary registration for a period of one year. Companies find it impossible to procure loans from financial institutions because of this.
Worse still, there is no office of the censor board in Manipur.
“We have to rush to the regional office of the Central Board of Film Certification in Guwahati to get the certificates. This is ridiculous because those who are certifying our films do not even understand the language, forget the ethos,” says R.K. Chandra Qumar, secretary of the film forum.
Theatre owners have their grievances, too.
“The government is trying to kill the industry by imposing heavy taxes,” laments Th. Damodar, a member of the Cine Exhibitors Association, Manipur.
The state charges Rs 100 per show as show tax, over and above the 90 per cent amusement tax it levies on the admission rate and the surcharge of 20 paise per ticket.
