"Yenning Amadi Likla" ends drought of Manipuri cinema in IFFI
By: Manipur Info Centre *
After 11 years of silence, Manipuri cinema came alive on the surface of the globe with the entry of Makhonmani Mongsaba's Manipuri Feature Film - Yenning Amadi Likla into the feature film section of the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2007.
The last Manipuri feature film which entered into the feature section of Indian Panorama of IFFI was A. Syam Sharma's Sanabi (The Grey Mare) in 1996. Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting yesterday announced the list of 21 feature films and 15 non-feature films selected for the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India 2007 to be held in November this year at Goa.
Makhonmani Mongsaba's 154-minute Yenning Amadi Likla was among 21 selected feature films. Aribam Syam Sharma's 58-minute documentary - Rajarshi Bhagyachandra of Manipur and Haobam Paban Kumar's 19-minute short fiction film Ngaihak Lambida (Along the way) were among 15 selected non-feature films. Selections were made out of 119 feature films and 149 non-feature films.
The jury of feature film was headed by KS Sethumadaram and non-feature by Arun Khopkar. Makhonmani Mongsaba said that his film was about a story of a nature loving child who was neglected by his parents. The film made in 16mm and blown up in 35mm was produced by six ladies namely Umarani, Saroja, Santibala, Ibemhal, Sunitibala and Victoria. In short, Survi is the Producer. Moirangthem Inao penned the story. Umarani, one of the producers of the film said over phone that the film could not be shown in Manipur unless the film was converted into video film.
She lamented over conversion of all the cinema halls in Manipur into video halls. She asked how would Manipuri films survive without cinema halls. Mention may be made that Manipur could not produce any feature films for the last many years. According to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), no Manipuri Feature film was produced in the year 2006. In place of it, 62 Manipuri Video films were produced during the year as per the record of CBFC. Haobam Paban Kumar said that his Manipuri film Ngaihak Lambida produced by the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata was made in 35 mm.
The film scripted by M.K. Binodini was about the story of a woman who searched for freedom. Shyam Sharma's 35 mm film made in English was produced by the Films Division, Mumbai and scripted by M.K.Binodini and Shyam Sharma. Shyam Sharma said that the film was about the story of Bhagyachandra who was one of the greatest Vaishnav kings of Manipur.
A versatile person of immense qualities, he was an expert war strategist who wielded his sword to defend his land and people, and yet an artistic genius of divine sensibilities who gave the world the classical dance of Manipuri Ras. Shyam Sharma was also disappointed when his documentary could not be shown to his native people in his home State due to non-availability of cinema halls in Manipur where all the cinema halls were utilized as Video halls.