IMPHAL: An Imphal-based civil body, Kangleipak Kanba Lup (KKL), has barred celebrated Manipuri film actor Soma Laishram from acting and participating in social functions for three years, sending shock waves through the film community of the strife-torn state.KKL has accused her of turning show-stopper in a beauty pageant held in New Delhi on Saturday (September 16) despite a general appeal it made to the people and a personal advice to the actor to abstain from taking part in such programmes when Manipur is "still burning" for more than four months now.However, Film Forum Manipur (FFM), the umbrella body of all film units of the state, expressed dissatisfaction over KKLs restriction on the actor, and said it would move on to chalk out a solution to the issue.Soma, who won the Best Actor trophy for her role in the film Enakta Leiringei at the 2018 Manipur State Film Awards, clarified on Tuesday that the event in which she performed was a Northeast Festival rather than a pageant. "As a professional actor and a social influencer, it is my responsibility to communicate and speak up about the crisis in Manipur, and I chose that platform," said the actor. The event was hosted by My Home India, a non-profit, and the programme I took part in was a cultural one celebrating the heritage of the NE. The actor confirmed receiving a call from KKL a day prior to the event, suggesting that she reconsider taking part in it. I clarified that it was not a beauty or a fashion show organised for fun...It was a cultural event. The state film forum said it disapproved of restrictions being imposed on the actor and promised to resolve the issue. Both the film forum and the actors guild said the request from KKL to discourage Soma from taking part in the Delhi show came on the day of the show, leaving them no time to intervene. FFM stands by Soma Laishram and will reason with KKL to withdraw its unilateral decree against the actor, the forums chairman Laimayum Surjakanta Sharma said.

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