Priyanka Chopra's Mary Kom can't be released in Manipur: Reasons explained

Bangalore, Sept 8:

actress

's movie

, produced by Sanjay Leela Bansali, has been released in over 1800 theatres across India on Friday, Sept 5.

The Hindi film documents boxer Mary Kom's journey from a small north-eastern state to winning an Olympic medal despite all odds. While the movie has been getting praise from all, the boxer's relatives, friends, students, followers in Manipur are missing the screening. The movie is banned in the north-eastern state.

Why is Mary Kom banned in Manipur?

• Mary Kom is banned in Manipur as Bollywood movies are not allowed to be released in the state.
• Ever since Sept 2000, Hindi films are banned in Manipur by separatist militant group Revolutionary Peoples Front.
• The militant group believes that Bollywood goes against Manipuri values.
• There are around six theatres in Imphal which screen only locally made Manipuri films.
• Manipuri filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar claimed that besides insurgency issue, theatres in Manipur are not technically equipped to show a mainstream Bollywood film.
• The theatres in Manipur are having a digital projection system only to show movies from DVDs.

How did boxer Mary Kom react to the ban?

Speaking to media, the boxer was quoted as saying, "I feel very sad that people everywhere are seeing the film made on my life but not the people in Manipur."

"It is risky to release it here so I think it is better not to do it. But me and the government tried their best to get it released," she added.

Who is Mary Kom?

• 31-year-old Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom is also known as MC Mary Kom, or Mary Kom.
• She hails from Manipur and a boxer by profession.
• She is a five-time World Amateur Boxing champion.
• Mary Kom is the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships.
• She was the only Indian boxer to have qualified for the 2012 world Olympics and won a bronze medal.

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