Controversy precedes release of movie inspired by Nagaland’s little braveheart

Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, Oct. 8: The highly anticipated movie, ‘Nani Teri Morni’ – inspired by the true-life events of Mhonbeni Ezung, the youngest recipient of the National Bravery Award – appears to have run into rough weather with the Nagaland government for its release here in the state. The movie is directed by an Indian film director and scriptwriter, Akashaditya Lama from Mumbai. According to the makers of the movie, it was set to be released not only in Kohima but also in Dimapur during the ‘Children Film Bonanza’ a movie festival for children under the initiative of Children’s Film Society India (CFSI). They claimed to have obtained approval from the CFSI. Rebecca Changkija, the ‘line producer’ of the movie told Eastern Mirror that the movie was scheduled to be released in Kohima as well as Dimapur during the festival. “We spoke to the officials of CFSI and with the help of the director, the CFSI agreed to showcase the movie during the festival,” said Changkija adding that official mails were sent to the government for its release as early as August 30. Changkija claimed that she had met Abhishek Singh, commissioner and secretary of Public and Administrative Reforms on Sep. 19 to discuss the logistics of the release during the festival in Dimapur. She said that Singh seemed ‘receptive’ to the proposal and they agreed that the movie would be shown in Dimapur for three days and for two days in Kohima. ‘Acceding’ to the request of Singh, the team prepared a revised budget of INR 10 lac to screen the movie in both districts in the second week of October, Changkija informed while maintaining that emails and official notices were exchanged which showed a “positive response.” A statement from Shiraz Henry, ‘film writer and director’ from Mumbai, stated that on Sep. 26, Changkija also met the personal secretary to the chief minister for the new proposal of having the screening in the two districts. He claimed that the CFSI, in subsequent emails, had proposed the bonanza to be held on Oct. 8 and 9^th in Kohima and Oct. 10 to 12^th in Dimapur since these dates were suitable for the CEO of CFSI to attend the events. However on Sep. 28, the makers of the movie received information that a similar proposal had been put up before the secretariat for the screening to be held only in Kohima with a sanctioned budget of INR 10 lac, Changkija claimed. “On the 3rd of Oct., upon receiving copies of the said proposal, it was apparent that the same had been put up by none other than Abhishek Singh to the department of Art and Culture,” she said. Changkija alleged that she and her team, during a meeting on Oct. 4 with Singh and other officials from various department ‘to make sense of the decision by the government’, Singh had “shouted and banged on the table” and asked who were they to question the government. “I have represented the state and region in many events and for me, the children, and (Naga) people have never witnessed such events, so wanted I it to happen in both districts,” said Changkija. Singh also spoke to this newspaper on Monday.  He claimed that the CFSI had never mentioned Rebecca Changkija and that the Dimapur screening was proposed but never finalised. “It is a matter of miscommunication between the two and it is really unfortunate that this is happening. I won’t get into petty fights as this event is for the children,” Singh maintained. He informed that a total of INR seven lac has been sanctioned for the five-day film festival in Kohima and 40 schools from Kohima district will be attending it. “The event happening in Kohima does not mean it won’t happen in Dimapur or other districts; the movie will be taken for screening in other districts in the days to come,” he claimed. Singh informed that as per the request of the CFIC, the government went ahead with the proposal to showcase the movie during the bonanza adding that the CFIC officials were already in the state. Mhonbeni Ezung would also be felicitated on Oct. 9, he informed. “I congratulate Children's Film Society of India #CFSI and look forward to the launch of "Children's Film Bonanza". The five-day festival which begins tomorrow will showcase 9 movies at the state capital, with 40 participating schools,” tweeted the chief minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio on Monday.