Movie halls to challenge Nipamacha 'threat'

IMPHAL, January 23: Movie hall owners and employees are planning to challenge in court chief minister W. Nipamacha Singh's "threat" that his government would not allow cinema halls to screen Manipuri and English films if Hindi films are not screened there. Sources said the chief minister's remark has also irked local cable TV operators. The outlawed People's Liberation Army (PLA) banned all forms of entertainment, including films, music and satellite channels, in the Hindi language in Manipur from September last year. However, the outfit spared teaching of Hindi in educational institutions. Nipamacha Singh had warned that he would launch a crackdown on cinema halls and cable operators for obeying the PLA diktat. This is a part of his 12-point action plan submitted to Union home minister L.K. Advani recently. "A legal battle seems to be the only option now," said a cinema hall employee. However, the cable operators and cinema halls are yet to receive an official notice from the government. Caught between a militant diktat and a government crackdown, the Imphal-based Cine Exhibitors' Association is planning to chalk out a strategy to tackle the present situation. A movie hall manager said English and Manipuri films alone cannot fulfil the needs of cinegoers. The box office here has been badly hit over the past several months due to the ban on Hindi movies, sources added. There are nearly 50 movie halls in the state and they employ more than 1,000 employees. These employees are a worried lot as a government order might force the halls to close down. Nipamacha Singh said, "They have to face the militants if they are too concerned about their jobs." Commenting on the legality of issuing such a threat to movie halls and cable operators, the chief minister said his government would face everything in a court of law. A cable TV operator said they were following the guidelines framed by the Union ministry of information and broadcasting. "We include two channels of Doordarshan in our services as per rules. And we show channels like Zee News and Star News," he added. There are two cable networks operating in the city. Sources said Assam Rifles officials tried to force cable operators to show Hindi movies. When they refused, their equipment was "confiscated" for several days. "We have to face the reality. We will now seek legal help as we did not violate any rules," said a cable TV operator. "How can we face the outlawed militants? We would rather face the government in court," said a cinema hall employee.