Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra poses during a promotional event of the film Mary Kom which features the story of boxer Mary Kom in Mumbai.
India’s five-time world amateur boxing champion Mary Kom voiced disappointment yesterday that a Bollywood biopic could not be shown in her restive home state due to a militant group’s ban on Hindi films.
The separatist Revolutionary Peoples Front has forbidden Hindi-language film screenings since 2000 in Manipur and theatre owners have abided by the order since then over fear of violent retribution.
“I’m a little disappointed that the film was not screened in my home state,” Kom, who won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, said.
“We tried, but we could not do so as it could invite trouble,” she said.
The movie Mary Kom was released in over 1,800 theatres across India last Friday and features former Miss World Priyanka Chopra, now a major star, in the title role.
The movie documents the boxer’s journey from the tiny, impoverished state to winning an Olympic medal.
“I even requested the militant outfit to allow this particular film to be screened, but my request was turned down,” Lalkhomang Sarto, a local community leader, said.
The militant group has branded Hindi films a threat to the local language, culture, and traditions and says such movies pollute young minds.
“People in general are very keen to watch the film based on the life of our very own Mary Kom. But we’re all helpless as there’s a separatist ban on screening of Hindi films,” L Surjakanta Sharma, president of the Manipur Film Forum, said.
Theatres show only locally made Manipuri films and some pirated English-language movies and occasional movies in other Indian languages.
“The film had the potential to inspire and motivate youngsters in Manipur, but due to the militant ban movie-lovers have missed a golden opportunity,” R K Bidur, a local film critic, said.
Manipur, bordering Myanmar, is home to nearly 20 separatist groups which have demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.
The Indian Express reported that some people from Manipur were travelling to nearby states in northeastern India such as Assam to watch the movie.
