Film Forum to push for state cine policy

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 3

The charge handover programme of the apex body of film fraternity, Film Forum Manipur’s executives was held today at Shankar Talkies, Lamphel and Samjetsabam Mangoljao took charge as the new chairman of the forum.

In a brief chat with the Imphal Free Press, the newly elected chairman, Mangaljao said that as the new chairman he would first of all correct the affiliation in art and culture department to Department of Information and Public Relation (DIPR). He said that film department is supposed to be affiliated to DIPR and instead is affiliated to art and culture department.

He maintained that he would try his best to implement the cine policy in the state, which has not yet been materialised till date.

The forum had many times requested the state government to implement this policy but the government had never given a positive response, he said.

If this policy is implemented in the state, the actors, directors, cameramen and those who are working in the film fraternity will be better placed, he said.

The forum is made up of 12 guilds including the guilds of actors, singers, directors and others. As a new chairman, he said he will try to expand the market of Manipuri films in the country and also to the neighbouring countries of the state including Myanmar, Thailand and Bangladesh with English subtitles.

He also mulled over the idea of installing cinema theatre in major shopping centres of the state. When asked about the Manipuri films not winning any national award this year in feature film category, he said most of the films are produced for commercial turn over.

He said under his chairmanship  he would try to make good films as much as possible.

Mangoljao, who started his film career in 1978, in a light mood shared that one of his best films would be ‘Lalasi Pal’. His next movie due to be released is “Korounganba Part-2” in which he is casted as the father-in-law of his real daughter.

The general election to the executive body of the forum was held on July 31. Along with Mangoljao, Khwairakpam Bishwamitra was elected as vice chairman-I, R.K. Homen as vice chairman-II, Ngangbam Ghanashaym as secretary general, Waikhom Gojen Meitei as finance secretary, Rakesh Naorem as secretary information and publicity, Laishram Premananda as joint secretary-I, Oinam Gautam as joint secretary-II and Thounaojam Mahes as joint secretary-II, respectively.