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.