Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar is going to inaugurate the Golden Jubilee celebration of Manipuri Cinema on 9th April 2021 in Manipur. Manipuri Cinema is completing 50 years on 9th April 2022, counting from the same day in April of 1972 when the first Manipuri feature film, Mataamgi Manipur was released.

To commemorate the milestone, Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) has charted out a comprehensive yearlong programme estimated at a cost of around 5.23 crores. Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh met the Union I&B minister and submitted a detailed programme proposal for which he sought financial assistance for the celebration. Chief Minister also invited the Union Minister to inaugurate the Golden Jubilee celebration as its Chief Guest scheduled on April 9th 2021 at the MSFDS complex.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar accepted to come for the inauguration to Manipur as well as assured the Chief Minister of Manipur of all assistance to make the historic event planned by MSFDS a grand success. Conceived by the 17 member organising committee comprising, filmmakers, film actors, film activist, media persons and government representatives the Golden Jubilee Celebration envisages tapestries of film events to support film practice in Manipur at all levels for advancing the present status to the next level of sustainable growth. The design of the celebration is meticulously woven so that Manipur becomes the hub for cinema practice and discourse during the event.

Highlights of the programmes include…launching of Manipur State Film Archive, introspection on Manipuri Cinema, comparative studies of Manipuri Cinema in the context of India/world cinema, masterclasses by acclaimed filmmakers from around the world, the publication of books on Manipuri cinema, district levels film festivals, Manipur film screening and dialogues at selected Indian metros and National media institutes to propagate the identity of Manipuri cinema, film quiz to disseminate the history of cinema in Manipur, film sensitisation with basic skill training modules at school and colleges, mobile filmmaking workshop and competition, launching of the first competitive Imphal International Film Festival, and the launching of futuristic Manipur film promotion fund, a scheme to incubate and nurture stories and storytellers by mentoring and making grants and fellowship to help Manipuri cinema to scale up.

This was informed in a release by Sunzu Bachaspatimayum, Secretary Manipur State Film Development Society.