IMPHAL, April 9 � The need to establish a film studio or a film village in Manipur to improve the film industry in the State was mooted during the observation of Mami Numit, the birth of Manipuri cinema at Manipur Film Development Corporation (MFDC) hall here today.
Veteran actor K Tomba, known as Lamja Tomba in the Manipuri film world who acted in the State�s first feature film �Matamgi Manipur�, speaking on the occasion, stressed the need to develop a film studio.
Celebrating the screening of �Matamgi Manipur� on April 9, 1972, Mami Numit was held under the aegis of Film Forum Manipur (FFM) in association with MFDC in the presence of film activists.
The chief guest Commissioner of Arts and Culture Dr RK Nimai Singh expressed his desire to have regular screening of quality or award winning films at the new hi-tech MFDC cinema hall at Palace Gate here.
Participating in the felicitation of two dozen award winning actors, producers and directors, Dr Nimai observed, �Most of award winners happened to be young which means Manipur films have a bright future.�
Managing Director of MFDC, K Sobita and FFM President L Surjakanta Sharma attended the programme where 23 film personalities were honoured. With a cash award of Rs 5,000 and a shawl, film writer Yambem Tombi was honoured with the best film journalist award.
Manipur has so far produced 53 celluloid feature films in the last 40 years besides 473 video films on digital format in the last 10 years, according to FFM.
