Day: August 5, 2023

Pic By: James Khangenbam

Haobam Paban Kumar’s documentary film ‘Iron Women of Manipur’ and Meena Longjam’s
documentary film ‘Andro Dreams’ will compete in the 15th International Documentary and
Short Film Festival of Kerala 2023 organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on
behalf of Government of Kerala to be held at Thiruvananthapuram from August 5 to 9 this
year.

‘Iron Women of Manipur’ has been officially selected among 15 films in the Competition
Short Documentary category and ‘Andro Dreams’ among 14 films in the Competition Long
Documentary category of the festival, said a statement issued by Meghachandra Kongbam,
president, Film Society of Manipur.

Haobam Paban Kumar’s 26-minute long Manipuri documentary is a tribute to the sports
personalities of the country who have contributed immensely to the development of women
in sports.The film follows the inspiring stories of the pioneers of women weightlifters, from
N Kunjarani Devi, Padmashri Awardee 2011 and Anita Chanu, Dhyanchand Awardee to the
present-day weightlifting sensation of India Mirabai Chanu, Padmashri Awardee 2018.

Narration and subject expert of the film is sports journalist Ratneshwari Goswami. Saikhom
Ratan takes the helm as cameraman with Laishram Devakumar Meetei as the sound designer
and Sankha, the editor. The film is produced by the Films Division.

Meanwhile, Meena Longjam’s 63 minute and 17 seconds long documentary is the love story
of Laibi, an old woman with a spirited soul and her three decade old all girls’ football club
battling economic challenges, patriarchal system and orthodoxy in an ancient village of north
east India.

Sunny Sarungbam is the cameraman, Debajit Gayal sound designer, Sankha editor and Jimbo
Takhellambam music in the film which is produced by Airameen Media and Janis
Vishwanath.

Courtesy : The Sangai Express

‘Iron Women of Manipur’ and ‘Andro Dreams’ to compete in 15th IDSFFK 2023 Read More

Pic By : James Khangenbam

By James Khangenbam 05 July 2023 Imphal:

Haobam Paban Kumar, one of Manipuri Cinema’s decorated filmmaker, has done it again
with his latest Manipuri feature film, “Joseph ki Macha” (Joseph’s Son) getting premiered in
the largest international film festival of Asia and the longest running international film
festival of China.

This time, his 83-minute film on the fear and uncertainty of life in Manipur, devastated by
armed conflict and ethnic divide, did Manipuri Cinema proud by being Indian’s lone entry to
the main competition section of the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival 2023, which
was held from 9th to 18 June in China’s biggest city and global financial hub.

Co-Produced by National Film Development Corporation and Haobam’s own production
firm, Oli Picture, “Joseph’s Son is based on a short story by Sudhir Naoroibam, a Sahitya
Akademi Award winner. The story revolves around Joseph’s (played by Guru Rewben
Mashangva) search for his missing son through a landscape of dismal and turmoil.

The Manipuri film was in the competition section with 11 other international films for the
prestigious Golden Goblet Award 2023. It got its world premiere on 13th June at the
Shanghai Film Centre as part of the film festival.

Along with director Haobam Paban Kumar, the protagonist, Guru Rewben Mashangva and
executive producer of the film, PP Math attended the festival. Haobam Paban Kumar is a
nominated executive member of the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) who
repeatedly grabbed international attention with his reel stories of Manipur.

“Joseph ki Macha” is his third Manipuri feature film. Each of his earlier films have all earned
critical accolades in the festival circuits of the world. Debuted with Loktak Leirembi or Lady
of the Lake, his second production being “Nine Valley One Valley”.

( With inputs from MSFDS )

Manipuri feature film at the international film festival of China Read More