Nongallabasu Thaballei Manam

A classic film with a lingering fragrance

A scene from Nongallabasu Thaballei Manamr

Nongallabasu Thaballei Manam (The lingering fragrance) is a film with a class. A difference, which can be treated at a different level amongst the Manipuri films. A beautiful romantic story is given life by a classic script and rendering by noted artistes. The film now shown at Usha Cinema is picturization of one of the most popular radio play of Moirangthem Inao. He himself directed the film.

The actors and actresses look and act well. It is a story of a cycle of unrequited love. A sweet not so good looking village damsel falls in love with a good looking studious lad of the same village who is running after a girl of a neighboring village who in turn scorns him while waiting for someone who never turns up.

The romantic tale which blossomed in a suburban peaceful locality unfolds in an exotic yet subtle way. The meaningful, heart rendering dialogues maintain a harmony of human feelings which shuttles between reality and dream, love and hatred. The cultural ethos now almost extinct, are portrayed with a sense of nostalgia. The girl played by Gaitri keeps hurling questions, argues with the stone heart boy played by Nityaibi whose heart is hovering somewhere else.

Moirangthem Inao uses all his talents to shower the best of words, dialectics, and dialogue between the two young persons. Gaitri excels as an actress. She wonderfully plays the role of a dejected girt who never gives up, who is frightened by the reality that she can never marry the boy whom she loves so much. Playfully and in poetic fashion she expresses her feelings only to go deliberately unnoticed.

He however understands the tribulations afflicted on her by his unresponsive behavior yet he has little to think about it as he puts all his money and labor to woo the neighboring village girl. The hero goes to the city for further studies, the girl stays back. They lead separate family lives.

A scene from Nongallabasu Thaballei Manamr

The story begins at this point of time. Nityaibi's son (Pritam) a college drop out and Gaitri's daughter (Manda) a doctor elope. A pensive Nityaibi narrates the story about his relation with the mother of their ‘to be daughter-in-law' to his wile. He is apprehensive about the response of Gaitri considering the treatment he meted out to her and the unequal status of their children.

The warm, loving flagrance of Gaitri was conspicuous as Nityaibi goes with elders to inform the girl's family about the elopement. She welcomed them and was adorning the flower on her ear as she knew Nityaibi loves it. She with a smile accepted the son of her agoniser as her son-in-law. The beautiful Manda and the Pritam with a boyish look act as the two who elope. The gripping tale echoes till the union of the two lovers.

The powerful and popular voice of noted radio drama artiste N Medhajeet gives life to the wonderful dialogue between Nityaibi and Gaitri by lending his voice. Gaitri with ease carries herself extracting all die sympathies from the spectators.

Close encounter shots, facial expressions diminish any deficiency in technique un­avoidable in the poor land with little infrastructure. S Tijendra who gives the music churns out few songs, which the spectators hum as they go back to their home after watching the film with the fragrance still lingering around.

By: N Satyajeet/Manipur Mai