Short
and documentary films in Manipur, limited in numbers as
of date,do have a place in Manipuri social progress, having
recorded valuable information of the contemporary and current
events on one hand and on the other, as hiving document
important aspect of cultural and customary life, tradition
and haritage of Meiteis in the Imphal valley and of the
tribal communities in the hills of Manipur.
Progressing
from B&W to colour, with formats in 16mm and 35mm, the
non-feature film had edged in to win recognition in the
national and International fora for their contributions
in projecting as well as popularising the different facets
of Manipuri life and the hitherto unknown fact of Manipur's
heritage.
A
listing of documentary films produced till 1997 with the
available data of each film.
Meipak
the son of Manipur (1971)
The
first manipuri documentary film to be ever screened publicy
was MAIPAK THE SON OF MANIPUR. The film was shown on November
9,1971 at the Pratap talkies . The film in 35mm B&W
was produced by K.T films privated Ltd. a banner floated
by Karam Monomohan- a pionner film producer of Manipur,
and it was directed by Dedkumar Bose from calcutta. Duration
the film is 10 minutes and medium is in both English and
Manipuri.
The
film took up as its subject the acheivement of Ningombam
Maipak Singh who clinched the prestigious title og Mr.India
in 1970 and who also participated in Mr. Universe contest
organised by International Federation of Body builders at
Paris in 1971. The film was shot in Calcutta on Meipak's
return to the city after the Mr.Universe contest. The film
captured extra-or-dinary physique of Manipur's famous and
handsome muscleman for posterity.
Manipur
state funtions (1972)
K.T
Films private Ltd. produced three short 35mm B&W documentaries
in 1972. These are mainly recording of government sponsered
state function in connection with particular events. The
films includes 1). Statehood day celebration of january
21 in 1972. 2). Plan exhibition of 1972 and 3). Republic
day celebration of January 1972. Duration of these films
are 10 minutes each. All the film directed by DebKumar Bose.
These
documentary films were screened publicly on april 9 in1972,
on the same day of screening the inaugration show of the
first manipuri features film matamgi Manipur.
In
1977, the Department of Information& Public Relations,
Government of Manipur produced two documentary films in
that year. The films are 1). TOWARDS A BETTER LIFE. 2).
20-POINTS ECONOMIC PROGRAMME. Both of fils are directed
by Aribam Shyam Sharma. Having duration of 10 minutes each,
the film are shot in 35mm, B&W.
Sanaleibak
Manipur (1980)
The
film SANALEIBAK MANIPUR was produced in 1980 by Directorate
of Information& Public Relations, Govt. Of Manipur.
The film is directed by Aribam Shyam Sharma. The film shot
in 35mm colour. Covering a duration of 30 minutes, the film
is in Manipuri(Meiteilon) medium. The film has as it subject
general aspects of the state, with report on govt development
programmes.
The
film bagged the state Award for the Best Documentary Film
in the non-feature category of First Manipur State Film
festival in 1984.
Manipur
News (1980)
The
Department of Information & Public Relation,Govt. of
Manipur also produced two documentary films namely: 1).
Manipur news 1979 and, 2) Manipur news1980-81. The films
are recording of the current events in the particular years,
and they are directed by: M.A Singh, having duration of
10 minutes each, the film are shot in 35mm B&W.
Pebet
(1984)
Heisnam
Kanhailal, well known theater director of Kalakhetra manipur
produced on celluloid the film PEBET which is based his
paly by the same name. The story of the play is based on
a popular Manipur folktale.The film is directed by Lokendra
Arambam,another well known theater personality. The film
is in 35mm colour with a duration of 35 minutes.
The
film was judged the Best Film in the Non-Fiction section
of the International Short Film Festival held at calcutta
in1985. The film also participated in the Non-featutre category
of the International Film festival of India in 1985.
Tales
of Courage (1984)
The
film deals with the freedom frighter movement in Manipur,emphasing
on the contributions of the Manipur women in resisting the
British Rule in Manipur. The essence and importance of Nupilal
(women war) is the highlight in this film. The film also
narrates the role of the India National Army,INA its struggle
against the British rulers.
The
film is produced by the Film Division of India, and is directed
by Aribam Shyam Sharma, having a duration of 30 minutes,
the medium of the film is english. The film is shot in 35mm
colour.
Sangai-dancing
Deer of Manipur (1988)
The
film SANGAI THE DEER OF MANIPUR, is directed by Aribam Shyam
Sharma and produced for the sangeet Natak Academi, New Delhi,
is based on the ballet Keibul Lamjao written by M.K.Binodini
and performed by ballet unit of the Jawaharlal Neharu Manipur
Dance Academy, Imphal. The film shot at the Kalinga Studio
in Orissa. All the artists involved in the ballet went there
for the shoting. Having a duration of 46 minutes, the film
is in 16mm colour.The film is no commentry. It is sub-title
in english.
The
film bagged five Merit Awards in the 12th Annual International
Wildlife film festival at Missoula,Montana in the U.S.A
in 1989. The Awards given for 1). Artistic excellence in
the Choreography. 2). Presentation of the inter-relationship
between animal and human. 3). Interpretation of Animal's
spirit. 4). Honarable Mention for fostering cultural perspective
of conservation.
The
film also participated in the London Film Festival and in
the Bombay International Film Festival in 1989. The film
was declared OUTSTANDING FILM OF THE YEAR 1989 by the British
Film Institute, London.
Keibul
Lamjao National Park (1988)
Keibul
Lamjao National Park a documentary film directed by Aribam
shyam Sharma and produced for the Department of Forest and
Enviroment Govt. of Manipur. The film is personal endeavour
of the then Chief WildLife Warden, Sh. Tomchou Singh. The
film is base on the silent features of the Internationally
re-known floating park at keibul Lamjao in Bishnupur Dist.of
Manipur. A special focus has been laid on Sangai(Cervus
eldi eldi), the rare and endangered Brow Anthler Deer. The
film is shot in 35mm colour with commentary in Manipuri.
The duration of the film is 30 minutes.camera is by the
Girish Padhiar, audiography by A. Shantimo Sharma and editd
by Ujjal Nandy.
The
film bagged the state award for the Best Documentary Film
in the second Film Festival of Manipur in 1994.
Koro
Koshi (1988)
Koro
Koshi a documentary film, directed by Aribam Shyam Sharma
and produced for the Manipur Film Development Cooperation
Ltd., a govt of Manipur undertaking. The film hightlight
the essence of the Traditional Village Gate erating of the
Mao Tribe in the Northern Manipur.The association of ritual
of pulling and erecting the village gate has been captured
in detail. The scrift is written by L. Debabrata Roy. Naratio
is by N. Vishwanathan, camera by K. Ibohal and Ph. Sharatchandra,
and audiography by A. shantimo. The film is shot in 35 mm
colour and has commentary in english. Duration of the film
is 22 minutes.
Of reconition acheived by the film, mention may be made
of its participation in the Indian panorama section of the
International Film Festival of India at Calcutta in 1989.
The film aslo participated in the Indian Film Week held
in Hungary in 1989 and in Bombay International Film Festival
in 1989.
The
Deer of Manipur (1989)
The
film THE DEER OF MANIPUR, directed by Aribam Shyam Sharma
and produced for the Indian National Trust for Art &
Culture Haritage (INTACH),New Delhi takes on the theme on
the Endanger Brow Antlered Deer Sangai. The film goes on
length on reason the changing enviroment in Keibul Lamjao,
the habitat of Sangai, and consequence threat to the survival
of the deer species. The film is in 16 mm colour with commentary
in english. Duration of the film is 25 minutes.
The
film bagged the National Award for the Best Enviroment/
Conservation/ preservation film in 1990. The film aslo bagged
Merit Award for Portrayal of Endangered species in the 12th
Annual International Wildlife Film Festival at Montana in
the U.S.A in 1989.
Totankham
(1989 )
The
film TOTANKHAM, directed by Sanakhya Ibotombi and produced
by Avant Garde, a theaterical society based in Imphal,takes
up theme on the ritualistic festival of a particular tribe
of Manipur. The film is in 16 mm colour with commentary
in english. Duration of the film is 20 minutes.
Indigenous
games of Manipur ( 1990)
The
film INDIGENOUS GAMES OF MANIPUR, directed by Aribam Shyam
Sharma and produced for Doordarshan, highlights the severals
indigenous games of Manipur, such as the Cheibi, Mukna,
Yubi lakpi, Mukna Kangjei, Hiyang, Kang, and Sagol kangjei
from the immemorial.The film is in 16 mm colour with commentary
in english. The duration of the film is 72 minutes.
The
film bagged the National Award for the Best Exploration/Adventure
film in the 38th National Film Festival in 1991.
Meitei
Pung (1991 )
The
film MEITEI PUNG, directed by Aribam Shyam Sharma and produced
for Doordarshan,dwells into the mysticism and aestheticism
of the indigenous percussion music of the Meitei of Manipur.
The film brings out the beauty of the Meitei artistesin
lively performance. The Meitei pung the barrel shaped Manipuri
drum, is focussed as an essential part of Mnipuri life and
culture.
The
film is in 35 mm colour. Duration of the film is 30 minutes,with
the commentary in english. The film bagged special jurry
Award in the 39th National Film Festival held in 1992.
The
Gorkha of Manipur (1991)
The
film GORKHA OF MANIPUR, directed by Sanakhya Ibotombi and
produced by B.R chhetri for the Avant Garde, Imphal takes
up as its subject the Gorkha in service and in daily life
as observed in the state. The film is in 16 mm colour. Duration
is 20 minutes.
Yaosang
(1991)
The
film YAOSANG, directed by Sanakhya Ibotombi and produced
by R.K Binoy for Avant Garde, records the event of the Annual
Festival Yaosang in Manipur. The film is in 16 mm colour.
commentary is in both english and Manipuri.
Lai
Haraoba (1992 )
The
film LAI HARAOBA, directed by Aribam Shyam Sharma and produced
for the Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts, New Delhi goes
in length to dwell into the different aspects of the Lai
Haraoba performences,particularly the associated ritual
and dances performances.Shot in 16 mm coour, with a duration
of 60 minutes.
Moirang
Parva (1993)
The
fil MOIRANG PARVA,a joint production of the directorate
of Art & Culture,Govt of Manipur and East Zone cultural
centre,Calcutta deals with the aesthetics of the Moirang
parva,the traditional folk oral recital that narrates stories
form the life of the legendary characters Khamba and Thoibi
of Moirang.The film is 35mm colour and duration is 28 minutes.
Orchids
of Manipur (1994)
The
film ORCHID OF MANIPUR, directed by Aribam Shyam Sharma
and produced by Forest Dept. Govt of Manipur, draws as its
theme a pictures of beautiful,lovely orchid flowers of Manipur,in
their assorted varieties and enviroment.The connected lores
are also emphasised. The film is in 35 mm colour, with commentary
in Manipur.The duration of the film is 26 minutes.
Of
the recognition of it had acheived, the film bagged the
National Award for Best Enviroment /Conservation/Preservation
film in 1994. The film participated in the International
Wildlife Film Festival at Morocco in 1994. The film had
also been approved by the External Ministry ,Government
of India for purchase by foreign exhibitor. It was screened
in the Indian Panorama section of IFFI in 1994.
Pena
(1994)
The
film PENA, a film by Makhon Mani Mongsaba,seek to explore
the philosophy and the aesthetics of the traditional pena
music that has encaptured people of all walks of life and
communities by its mystic,luring renderings.The film also
highlights pena performance in ritualistic performances.
With a duration of 18 minutes, the film is in 35mm colour.
Yelhou
Jagoi (1996 )
The
film YELHOU JAGOI( The dance of Lai Haraoba), directed by
Aribam Shyam Shrama and produced for the Indira Gandhi national
Centre for the Art(IGNCA),New Delhi, is the based of the
creation myth narrated and enacted in the Lai Haraoba(Festivities
of the God). Having a duration of 30 minutes, the film is
in 35 mm colour. There is no commentary in the film, which
by itself is a peculier character of the film. A brief introduction
is given in the opening of the film.
The
film had the rare honour to open the film festival of the
Indian panorama section of the International Film festival
of India in 1996 at Shri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi. The
film bagged the National Award for the Anthropological and
Ethnographical film in 1996.
Laa
(1997)
The
film LAA (The Banana leaf ), a film by Thoungamba and Thouyangba
for P.K films Manipur,has as its subject the differents
uses of banana leaf in the daily and customary life of Meitei
in the Manipuri valley,with assocated belief connected the
use of the banana leafon particular occasions.Shot in 35
mm colour, the duration of the film is 26 minutes. The film
has commentary in english. The script written by M.K Binodini.
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