Digitised Imagi Ningthem screened at Pune film fest
Source: Hueiyen News Service / MIC

New Delhi, January 14 2014 : After it was digitized by the National Film Archives of India (NFAI), Internationally acclaimed Manipuri film, Imagi Ningthem (My Son, MyPrecious) directed by Aribam Syam Sharma was screened in the Blu-ray version in the ongoing 12th Pune International Film Festival in the section "Gems from NFAI" at City Pride, Screen 5, Abhiruchi, Pune today morning.

Imagi Ningthem is among seven Indian films selected for screening under the section- Gems From NFAI.

Including the National award winning Manipuri film, NFAI has digitized 566 films and restored 329 so far under the National Film heritage Mission.

Other films selected for screened under the section are Bhavni Bhavai( Gujarati) directed by Ketan Mehta, Samskara (Kannada) by Pattabhirami Reddy, Daasi (Telegu) by B.Narsinga Rao, Agraharathal Kazhuthai (Tamil) John Abraham, Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai (Assamese) by Jahnu Barua and Esthappan (Malayalam) by G.Aravindran.

Imagi Ningthem screened at Pune film fest

The 110-minute long Imagi Ningthem tells the story of an orphan.

A lady teacher, new to the village is asked by an old man to tutor his grandson who is sickly all the time.

The teacher becomes curious to know more about the old man and the boy.

She finds out from a colleague that the boy's mother had been seduced by a man and died in child birth.

It turns out that the father is the husband of her cousin who is promptly apprised of the fact.

Her cousin is attracted to the unfortunate boy and adopts him while her husband is absent.

Subsequently the husband returns home and objects to the boy being adopted for he does not know it is his own son.

The grandfather wants to take the boy back but the step mother does not let him and ultimately keeps the boy.

Master Leikhendra, Ingudam Mangi, Rashi, Bhubhaneswari, Indra Kumar are main cast of the film scripted by M..KBinodini and cinematographed by K.Ibohal Sharma.

Khundrakpam Joykumar scored the music.

Imagi Ningthem brought Aribam Syam Sharma international recognition when the movie received the Golden Montgolfiere in the Nantes International Film Festival in 1982.Imagi Ningthem was the first Indian Film to bag the prestigious award in the Nantes International Film Festival.