IFFI To Celebrate 50 Glorious Years Of Manipuri Cinema

IMPHAL: The Manipuri film industry has consistently portrayed motion picture storytelling through its indigenous dialect for the past 50 years, representing the societal complexities via its cinematic, thematic and aesthetic excellence. In line with its glorious fifty years, the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) aims to honor the state's remarkable contribution to Indian cinema by recognizing the state as the torch bearer for promoting films from North East India.

Asia's oldest film festival will exhibit five feature and non-feature films, helmed by the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) under Indian Panorama.

As per an official statement, with the screening of the opening feature film Ishanaou helmed by Padmashree award-winning director Aribam Shyam Sharma, along with other films, the film buffs will comprehend the taste of rich cultural heritage & traditions, lucid storytelling, folk dance & music of Manipur. Aribam Shyam Sharma, Oken Amakcham, Nirmala Chanu, Borun Thokchom, and Romi Meitei will attend the celebrations of the glorious 50 years of aesthetic excellence of Manipuri cinema.

Some of these movies which will be screened during the event include -

Ishanaou: Helmed by Aribam Shyam Sharma, the film revolves around a female protagonist named Tampha, her husband, and their kids. Their lives are upended by a rapid alteration when Tampha abruptly decides to leave her family in quest of the Maibi Guru, whom she believes has selected her to lead the matriarchal religious sect of Maibis. 

Brojendragee Luhongba: Directed by S.N. Chand Sajati, the film portrays the life of Brojendra, a doctor who ties the knot with a girl chosen by his mother, but denies to look her face. Later, at a musical performance, he runs into a stunning female and strikes up significant eye contact with her. He arrived home feeling guilty, but as he turned around, he was shocked to discover the same girl as his wife.

Loktak Lairembee: A poetic saga, the film revolves around the contemplative local populace, residing along the renowned Loktak Lake. The plot of the film, however, abruptly changes when a fisherman finds a weapon, giving him a newfound sense of confidence that turns violent.

Matamgi Manipur: The first feature film of Manipur - Matamgi Manipur narrates the tale of a middle-class family, including Tonsa, a retired man, and his three adult children. All of them are adherents to both contemporary and traditional social standards, and their lifestyles quickly diverge. The family initially seems doomed to break up, but as they come to know one another better, they decide to carry on living together as a unit.

Phijigi Mani: Yaiphabi, the lead female character in Oinam Gautam's Phijigi Mani, embarks on a quest to rejoin her family. She makes an effort to mend the frayed cord between her parents and her brother Sanajaoba, who left them. The film masterfully switches between Yaiphabi's past and present, changing the sociopolitical landscape of Manipur.

Ratan Thiyam: The Man of Theater: The film embarks on the journey of Ratan Thiyam, the founding director of the Chorus Repertory Theater in Manipur. A well-known Manipuri poet, writer, artist, musician, and doyen of Indian theatre, Ratan served as the Chairperson of the prestigious National School of Drama (NDA) from 2013-2017. The movie is helmed by Oken Amakcham and Nirmala Chanu.

It is worth noting that April 9 is celebrated as the birth of Manipuri cinema, since the first Manipuri feature film was released on April 9, 1972, titled 'Matamgi Manipur', helmed by Deb Kumar Bose.

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