International Film Festival of India celebrates 50 years of Manipuri cinema

Goa: The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is celebrating 50 years of Manipuri cinema. 10 Manipuri films are being screened at IFFI-Goa under the Special Golden Jubilee Cinema package. Out of 10, five are feature films and five are non-feature films. The Manipuri feature films being screened at IFFI are Ishanou, Brogendragee Luhongba, Loktak Larembi, Phijigee Mani and Matambi Manipur.

Deb Kumar Bose directed Matambi Manipur was the first Manipuri film, which was released on the 9th of April 1972. Since then, April 9 is celebrated as birth anniversary of Manipuri cinema. Five



non-feature films from Manipur being screened at IFFI are Ratan Thiyam: The Man of Theatre, Ilisa Amagi Mahao, Look At The Sky, The Silent Poet and The Tainted Mirror.

Veteran film makers from the state like Aribam Shyam Sharma, Oken Amakcham, Nirmala Chanu, Borun Thokchom and Romi Meitei are also attending the celebrations at IFFI in Goa marking 50 glorious years of Manipuri cinema. Despite all odds such as resource crunch and lack of investment in technology, Manipuri cinema kept its flag high, thanks to indomitable spirit of its filmmakers.