Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 01:
Despite making a name of its own in the international film arena, Manipuri Cinema is slowly decaying because of the indifferent attitude of the State Govt towards the local film producers.
Talking to mdiapersons, noted film maker and president of All Manipur Film Producers' Association K Ibohal Sharma said a subsidy amount of Rs 15 lakhs meant for producing celluloid films produced before 1997 is yet to be paid to the film makers till today despite the Govt's assurance to clear the amount in July 2003.Informing that the Govt has set a deadline to clear the amount within Feb 2005, he warned that the association will be constrained to approach the law court for justice if the State Govt fails to keep its words.
"We have prepared everything to file a writ and a meeting was recently convened to discuss the matter" he added.
Though the subsidy amount per celluloid feature film is Rs one lakh and Rs 50,000 for non-feature film, there has been a proposal to enhance the amount to Rs three lakhs and Rs 1.5 lakhs respectively in the MFDC but the State Govt is yet to accept it.
Meanwhile, many celluloid turned video film producers have begun raising their voice to get the same subsidy in respect of production of feature film and non feature film in video digital formats.
Except for the differences in budget, there is nothing different between celluliod and digital format video films, said Laimayum Dhanachandra Sharma, advisor of Bright Films and a spokesman of the newly formed Film Forum Manipur.
As done in celluloid films "We incur the same amount around Rs 20,000 in obtaining censor certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification for Video Films, he said while justifying that the Govt should pay the subsidy to them.
Stating that a meeting of the forum would be convened to press the Govt to pay the subsidy and also to open a certification unit at Imphal, he pointed out that acquiring film censor certificate from Guwahati is too expensive for local video film producers.
Meanwhile, Ksh Sorojini Devi, Director of Art and Culture Dept has informed that the Dept has submitted necessary documents for clearing the due amount of Rs 15 lakhs payable to the celluloid film producers.