Vicky Kaushal's ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ becomes first Hindi film to be shown in Manipur in 23 years

After more than two decades, cinema returned to strife-torn Manipur on August 15. Vicky Kaushal starrer ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ was screened at a makeshift open-air theatre in Churachandpur and it was attended by a large number of people.

Before the screening of the movie, the national anthem was played.

The screening was organised by the Hmar Students Association (HSA) to express its opposition to the ban on Hindi movies imposed in September 2000 by ‘Revolutionary People’s Front’, a political wing of the proscribed People’s Liberation Army, a valley-based Meitei terror group.

‘It has been over two decades since a movie was screened in our town. The Meiteis have banned Hindi movies for a long long time,’ the statement read.

‘Today’s move is to defy the anti-national policies of the Meitei groups and to show our love for India,’ Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson of Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, said in a brief statement.

The HSA said the last Hindi film that was publicly screened in Manipur was ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ in 1998.

The organisation describes itself as the voice of Kuki tribes.

Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes between the majority Meitei and tribal Kuki communities since May 3 and so far over 160 people have been killed.

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