''Matamgi Manipur'' ( mni, ꯃꯇꯝꯒꯤ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔ;
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
: ''The Times of Manipur'') is the first full-length
Manipuri feature film released in the year 1972. The movie is directed by Debkumar Bose and produced by Karam Monomohan, under the banner of K.T. Films Private Limited. The
black and white film features Gurumayum Ravindra Sharma and
Yengkhom Roma in the lead roles. Arambam Samarendra wrote the story and screenplay by Debkumar Bose. The film won the ''President's Medal'' (Rashtriya Chalchitra Purashkar) at the
20th National Film Awards.
It is an adaptation of Arambam Samarendra's theatrical play ''Tīrtha Yātrā''.
In remembrance of the occasion of release of this first feature film of Manipur, every year, April 9 is celebrated as ''Mami Numit'' (English: ''Cinema Day'') in the state. The film was processed at ''United Cine Laboratory'' under the supervision of Gauri Mukherjee. The credit titles (Meitei Mayek script) were written by Khun Joykumar.
The film began
shooting on 3 December 1971 and was wrapped up in January 1972.
Synopsis
The film narrates the story of a middle-class family which has votaries of the new and old values in society. They drift in different directions pulled by their diametrically opposite attitudes.
''Tonsna'', a retired Amin has two sons - ''Ibohal'' and ''Ibotombi'' - and a daughter, ''Tondonbi''. Ibohal is a fashionable, easy-going and spoilt youngman. His wife, ''Tampak'', wants to live the life of a virtuous ideal house-wife. Ibotombi is a progressive youngman who challenges all old values and feels angry why people do not understand the need to change old beliefs. Tondonbi, the sister, is a college girl, who has ultra modern ideas about life. She wants to enjoy life and in this pursuit makes the best of a given situation and the circumstance. Tonsna does not take the trouble of guiding his children or helping them adjust to the society which is slowly changing its image. The result is that Ibohal makes a mess of his life; Ibotombi is frustrated because the world of his existence does not change as fast as he would like it to do. Tondonbi also ends up in misery and desperation.
The family seems to be destined to disintegrate, but then they begin to understand each other better and decide to live together happily thereafter.
Cast
* Gurumayum Ravindra Sharma as Ibohal
*
Yengkhom Roma as Tampak, Ibohal's wife
* Kangabam Birbabu as Ibotombi, Ibohal's younger brother
*
Aribam Syam Sharma
Aribam Syam Sharma is an Indian filmmaker and composer from Manipur. He debuted in the first Manipuri film '' Matamgi Manipur'' as an actor. In 1974, he directed his first movie '' Lamja Parshuram''. It became the first Manipuri film to run for 1 ...
as Tonsna, Ibohal's father
* Elangbam Indira as Tondonbi, Ibotombi's younger sister
*
Kshetrimayum Rashi as Sunita
* Wahengbam Bedamani as Memcha, Ibotombi's girlfriend
* ''Baby'' Ameeta as Ibohal's daughter
* Lokendra Arambam as Secretary at Secretariat Office
* Dr.
Moirangthem Nara
Dr. Moirangthem Nara Singh (born Tentha, is an Indian politician from state Manipur. He was former Cabinet Minister for Arts and Culture and Sericulture in Manipur during 2002 to 2004.
Early life
Nara was born on 27 May 1949 in Tentha Villa ...
as Doctor
* Amujao
*
Kangabam Tomba as Birjit
* Okendra
Soundtrack
Aribam Syam Sharma
Aribam Syam Sharma is an Indian filmmaker and composer from Manipur. He debuted in the first Manipuri film '' Matamgi Manipur'' as an actor. In 1974, he directed his first movie '' Lamja Parshuram''. It became the first Manipuri film to run for 1 ...
composed the soundtrack for the film and Khuraijam Phulendra and
M. K. Binodini Devi
Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi (6 February 1922 - 17 January 2011) was an Indian novelist, short story writer, playwright, lyricist and member of the royal family of Manipur. She published books under the name ''Binodini''. She was best known for h ...
wrote the lyrics. The playback singers are Chongtham Kamala, Arambam Jamuna and Aheibam Budhachandra. The gramophone records were done by H.M.V.
Books
Bobby Wahengbam wrote a book on the film titled ''Matamgi Manipur: The First Manipuri Feature Film''. For the book, he won the Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) Award for Best Book on Cinema at the
65th National Film Awards
The 65th National Film Awards ceremony was an event during which the Directorate of Film Festivals presented its annual National Film Awards to honour the best films of 2017 in Indian cinema. The awards were announced on 13 April 2018. The awa ...
held in 2018.
In popular culture
Haobam Paban Kumar
Haobam Paban Kumar is an Indian filmmaker from state of Manipur. Kumar's films and documentaries have been screened in several places across the globe.
Kumar's debut feature film ''Loktak Lairembee'' (Lady of the Lake) won the National Film Awa ...
made a documentary film named as ''The First Leap''.
It is about the get together of the cast and crew of ''Matamgi Manipur'' on a fine day in the 2000s, watching the movie, recollecting the sweet memories and having lunch.
External links
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References
{{reflist, 2
Meitei-language films
1972 films
Indian black-and-white films