Asem Bhakta, Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: (Waari Singbul Network) The Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) is celebrating a milestone achievement in the illustrious journey of Manipuri cinema: the first anniversary of the Official Selection of “Ishanou” in the Cannes Classics at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in 2023.
“Ishanou,” a celebrated 1990 feature film by the doyen of Manipuri Cinema, Aribam Syam Sharma, originally debuted at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in 1991 in the Un Certain Regard section.
Thanks to a collaborative restoration project between MSFDS and the Film Heritage Foundation, Mumbai, this cinematic gem has been revived, earning a rare distinction in the Cannes Classics with a restored version.
The film, a poignant exploration of love and loss within Manipuri culture, narrates the story of Tampha, who leaves her family to join the Maibi sect of priestesses, driven by a spiritual calling. The narrative juxtaposes the spiritual world of the Maibis with the rhythm of everyday life, blending storytelling, documentary, and ethnography with understated acting, delicate camerawork, and traditional Manipuri music. A must for all, especially youths and children to understand the sophisticated culture and traditions of Manipur.
In a celebratory highlight, “Ishanou” will be screened on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in its original 35mm celluloid print for the final time. This event marks a proud moment in the 50-year journey of Manipuri cinema, which recently celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2021-22. The film’s celluloid print will subsequently be preserved in the zero-degree-humidity controlled film vault of the SN Chand Cine Archive & Museum of MSFDS.
Notably, MSFDS is dedicating these anniversary screenings as a fundraiser to support the family of the late Irom Maipak, the only national awardee cinematographer of the state and a beloved member of the Manipuri film community who succumbed to COVID-19 after successfully battling the virus for 15 days at a premier hospital in Imphal. Tragically, he passed away due to negligence in ensuring oxygen supply after being moved out of the COVID-19 ICU following a negative test result.
The special screenings are scheduled for 3:00 PM and 5:30 PM, featuring a simple felicitation ceremony for the cast, crew, and the restoration team preceding the final show. MSFDS calls on the public to support this noble cause by purchasing donor coupons, priced at Rs. 1,000/- Rs. 500/- and Rs. 300/- thereby joining in aiding Maipak’s family and celebrating the legacy of Manipuri cinema.
