R. K. Bidur Singh
{{Short description|Indian film critic and film society activist (1941–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = R. K. Bidur Singh
| image = File:R._K._Bidur_Singh,_Indian_film_critic.jpg
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| birth_name = Rajkumar Bidursana Singh
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1941|10|17}}
| birth_place = Nongmeibung Wangkheirakpam Leikai, Imphal, Manipur
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2021|06|09|1941|10|17}}
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| occupation = Film critic, writer
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| nationality = Indian
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| parents = R. K. Haimosana
R. K. Ongbi Bidhumukhi
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| awards = National Film Award for Best Film Critic (2008)
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R. K. Bidur Singh (17 October 1941 – 9 June 2021) was a notable Indian film critic{{Cite news|last=Ramachandran|first=Smriti Kak|date=2010-03-19|title=President confers 56th National Film Awards|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/President-confers-56th-National-Film-Awards/article16577085.ece|access-date=2021-06-09|issn=0971-751X}} and film society activist{{Cite web|date=4 January 2021|title=Workshop on journey of Manipuri cinema (1972-2020) commences at MU|url=https://thefrontiermanipur.com/workshop-on-journey-of-manipuri-cinema-1972-2020-commences-at-mu/|access-date=2021-06-09|website=The Frontier Manipur|language=en}} from Imphal, Manipur. He won the Best Critic Award at the 56th National Film Awards. He worked as a government employee and retired as an assistant account officer.{{Cite web|url=https://themorningbell.in/cata-condoles-rk-bidurs-demise/|title=CATA condoles RK Bidur's demise|accessdate=15 July 2021|website=themorningbell.in}}{{Cite web|url=https://pune.media/mourns-demised-film-activist-rk-bidur-0210610/|title=MSFDS MOURNS DEMISED FILM ACTIVIST/CRITIC, R.K. BIDUR|accessdate=15 July 2021|website=pune.media}} His published books include Wakhal Machu Machu, Shaktam Makhal Makhal (2011), Mitkup Khara (2012) and Kaunakhigadra Haina (Atenba Punshi Shaktamsing) (2013).{{Cite web|url=https://www.ifp.co.in/7801/msfds-mourns-death-of-film-critic-rk-bidur|title=MSFDS mourns death of film critic RK Bidur|accessdate=15 July 2021|newspaper=Imphal Free Press}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7333701.RK_Bidur_Singh|title=RK Bidur Singh (Author of Wakhal Machu-Machu, Shaktam Makhal-Makhal)|accessdate=15 July 2021|website=www.goodreads.com}}
Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) described him as an Encyclopedia of Manipuri cinema.{{Cite web|url=https://www.krctimes.com/stories/manipur-msfds-mourns-demised-film-activist-critic-r-k-bidur/|title=MSFDS Mourns Demised Film Activist & Critic, R.K. Bidur|accessdate=15 July 2021|website=www.krctimes.com}} He succumbed to post COVID-19 complications on 9 June 2021.
Associations and activities
R.K. Bidur Singh was the founding president of the Manipur Film Journalist/Critics Association (MFJCA).{{Cite web|date=9 June 2021|title=Manipuri film critic RK Bidur no more|url=https://ifp.co.in/7793/manipuri-film-critic-rk-bidur-no-more|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Imphal Free Press|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-06-09|title=Film activist Bidur passes away|url=https://www.pothashang.in/2021/06/09/film-activist-bidur-passes-away/|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Pothashang News|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=Khumukcham|first=Rinku|date=9 June 2021|title=Renown film critic RK Bidur passes away; MSFDS among others mourn - Imphal Times|url=https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/item/20634-renown-film-critic-rk-bidur-passes-away-msfds-among-others-mourn|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Imphal Times|language=en-gb}} He was also a jury member of the National Film Awards for Best Writing on Cinema at the 57th National Film Awards.{{Cite web|date=|title=57th National Film Awards - The Official Catalogue| url=https://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/45_57thNfacatalogue%20-%20.pdf
|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Directorate of Film Festivals|language=en}} He took charge for some years as the General Secretary of the Imphal Cine Club.{{Cite web|date=15 September 2020|title=Evolving digital film culture in Manipur: A misnomer|url=https://thefrontiermanipur.com/evolving-digital-film-culture-in-manipur-a-misnomer/|access-date=2021-06-09|website=The Frontier Manipur|language=en}} He had associated with National Film Development Corporation of India (Kolkata) - Film Script Panel, Film Critics Circle of India and the Cultural Forum, Manipur{{Cite web|url=https://thenortheastaffairs.com/renowned-manipur-film-critic-rk-bidur-dies-of-covid-19-at-jnims/|title=Renowned Manipur film critic RK Bidur dies of COVID-19 at JNIMS|accessdate=15 July 2021|website=thenortheastaffairs.com}} as members. Singh was the former Chairman of the film screening committee, Manipur Film Development Corporation Limited.{{Cite web|last=Kongbam|first=Meghachandra|date=5 February 2021|title=The subject of film : Is it a medium or an art form ?|url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2021/2/5/Meghachandra-KongbamContd-from-previous-issueThe-Department-of-Information-Public-Relations-Government-of-Manipur-produced-six-Manipuri-documentary-films-one-reel-each-in-16-mm-namely-1-Even.html|access-date=2021-06-09|website=The Sangai Express|language=en}} He had also worked as the Outside Assessor at the Commission Programme Centre of Doordarshan PPC (NE), Guwahati and Imphal and was the former festival director of the North East Film Festival.
Awards and accolades
R.K. Bidur Singh was conferred with the Outstanding Film Activist award by Manipur Film Development Corporation in 1997. He also received the Best Writing on Cinema award for his book Wakhal Machu Machu, Shaktam Makhal Makhal at the Manipur State Film Awards 2013.{{fact|date=April 2023}}
In 2008, he won the National Film Award for Best Film Critic at the 56th National Film Awards.{{Cite news|date=9 June 2021|title=He came, he saw and he left|language=en-IN|work=Imphal Free Press|url=https://www.ifp.co.in/6622/he-came-he-saw-and-he-left|access-date=2021-06-09}}{{Cite web|date=23 January 2010|title='Antaheen' gets national award for best film, Hindi bags maximum awards|url=https://www.indiantelevision.com/aac/y2k10/aac42.php|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Indian Television|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Pandit|first=Srimoyee|date=2010-10-25|title=56th National Film Awards|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/56th-national-film-awards-1287989857-1|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Jagranjosh}}{{Cite web|date=20 March 2010|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100320/nation.htm|access-date=2021-06-09|website=The Tribune}} The citation for the National Award reads, "For taking the readers to a state little known to our film makers. He understands cinema like few others, bringing with him an open mindset that accepts the plurality of thought. He upholds the cause of regional film makers and his ability to focus on cultural relativity does not leave him even when he talks of international cinema. He loves films and it shows in his works".{{fact|date=April 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- RK Bidur Singh at the [https://filmcriticscircle.com/members/ Film Critics Circle of India]
- RK Bidur Singh at the [https://filmcriticscircle.com/journal/author/rkbidursingh/ Journal of India Cinema]
- RK Bidur Singh at the [https://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/46_56thNfacatalogue%20-%20.pdf Directorate of Film Festivals of India (DFF)]
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