Imphal, Sep 05: Thanks to the drought of cinema halls which can screen films made in celluloid format, a film which was initially shot in this format is today set to hit the screen in digital format.

The first celluloid production of United Films, Manipur, Wahangsina, which has not been able to see the light of day for long due to drought in cinema houses where celluloid movies can be screened, is all set for release in digital format under the new name of Nakenthana Ngairi.

Talking to mediapersons at the Langol Games village office of the film company today, ahead of the formal release of the film at Usha Cinema Hall here on September 10, director of the movie Dinesh Tongbram hoped that his venture might help in bringing about a new revolution and redefine the whole concept of film making in Manipur.

Apart from releasing the film in digital format, Tongbram disclosed that he is also making arrangement to send the celluloid version of his movie to get an entry in the National Film Festival.

Tongbram had reportedly spent over Rs 9.5 lakhs in making the film in celluloid and the processing of the film had been done at Rupayan (Kolkata), Ramoji Film City (Hyderabad) and AGC (Lamphel).

But as big silver screen cinema houses are no more in operation in Manipur in the wake of the ban on Hindi films and the take over of digital film making, the film which was initially titled as Wahangsina has been redeveloped as Ngakenthana Ngairi to feed in the digital projectors for screening at the cinema houses.

Keeping in mind the prevailing taste of the movie goers, Tongbram, whose credential as a film maker had been proved in popular Video films like E-gee Mahao and Mantri Dolansana, has added some more entertainment and song elements in the original film whose main cast include Amarjeet, Seema, Kaiku, Devita, Bishwamitra, Gaitri, Lalit, Hemabati, among others.

Jiten Khaidem is providing the music score of the film which is being produced by Dinesh Tongbram is also responsible for the screen play.

Talking about problems being faced by film makers in Manipur, he complained bitterly against the failure of the State Government to implement the State Film Policy in letter and spirit.

Tongbram began his film making career as an assistant director in Meiree.

Apart from film making, Tongbram has also to his credits of having written more than 100 screenplays of film, drama and Sumang leela.

After the production of Cheina and Eigini Khanna in 2002, Tongbram's Wahangsina aka Nakenthana Ngairi is the first celluloid film made in Manipuri language.

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