Film critic, national awardee RK Bidur no more
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 09 2021: Noted film critic, film activist, Manipuri litterateur and a long time columnist of TPC's sister publication Poknapham, RK Bidur passed away at the age of 80 on Wednesday at JNIMS Hospital due to post-Covid complications.

RK Bidur was found Covid-19 positive on May 22 and was admitted to JNIMS Covid Ward.

He was discharged from the hospital after testing negative on May 29 .

But due to ill health he was again admitted to Advanced Hospital, Palace Compound from where he was referred back to JNIMS where he breathed his last at Hospital's ICU on Wednesday noon.

RK Bidur was born on October 17, 1941 at Nongmeibung Wangkheirakpam Leikai, Imphal East and was the fourth child of late RK Haimosana (Mutumsana) and late Bid- humukhi.

He retired from government service as an assistant account officer.

He was the first Manipuri to join the prestigious Film Appreciation Course of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.

RK Bidur had been honoured with many awards during his lifetime including the Best Film Critic Award (Swarna Kamal) at 56th National Film Awards.

He had also been a prolific writer with numerous books to his credit for which he was also honoured with many literary awards.

RK Bidur was also the founder-president of the Manipur Film Journalist/ Critics Association (MFJCA), Cine Club founder secretary, founder member of Critics Forum Manipur as well as member of various literary bodies.

Meanwhile, Poknapham and its sister publication The People's Chronicle, Manipur State Film Development Society, Writers' Forum Imphal, CPI Manipur State Council, Manipur Sahitya Parishad Tripura, Shree Shree Govindajee Natsankirtan Palace Compound, Critics Forum Manipur and Ipak Films Production have condoled the sudden demise of RK Bidur, by observing two minutes' silence and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace, while also sharing the grief of the bereaved family.

In a release, MSFDS also informed that in RK Bidur's fond memory and as a mark of respect to his invaluable contribution to Manipuri cinema, a candlelight memorial was held the Manipuri Cinema Memorial erected at MSFDS complex, Palace Gate by the film community of the state that has altogether lost six film personalities during the Covid-19 pandemic so far.

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