We can see lot of changes in Hollywood films with the change of time and the interest of the public. But in spite of all these changes we can still feel the originality and we can still see the reflection of their own culture and tradition.
This is one of the main factors that make Hollywood very popular all over the world. We enjoy and appreciate the works of DIRECTORS and the ACTORS. And they deserved it, because most of the works that they have done is not an imitation from someone else but it is more or less their original creation from their imagination and form the experiences that they see in their changing society and in the world. Such, changes in the film society is not only seen in the Hollywood but we can see in the Manipuri film society too.
But the changes that we can see are more or less the imitation of the Hindi films. Now a days we rarely see the reflection of our society in most of the Manipuri films. So, seeing all those mask creating movies it seems that our beautiful culture and tradition are being lost. In spite of making such film can't we produce our own original creation where the spectators can see the reflection of our beautiful cultures? I mean to produce those stories that base on our society.
Or something that is very unique from the films of Bollywood. There is a great influence of the Hindi film society that we can see the reflection in some of the Manipuri films. For example; in some of the films we can see the informal wedding style i.e. in the non-Manipuri (Mayangs) style. By this I don't mean to blame someone for this unwanted changes and I don't say all the present Manipuri films are changing irrelevant to our society but I mean to say to some of those films where we can see all these changes that are not relevant to our society.
There are lots of legendary stories that we heard since our childhood and they reflect the typical Manipuri society. So, in spite of living on imitation can't we spent some more time in studying and having research on those works and transform them into 3D format. We are not in lack of resources in the field of arts and culture. And even in the field of literature, but the thing that we need most is the utilization of those knowledge and uses of them in the proper way to make the world aware of our society in the right way.
Who can say that we Manipuri are lack in cultures and traditions? The two (culture and tradition) play an important role in introducing Manipur to rest of the world. So, there is no question of lacking in the creative arts. If we utilize the knowledge that we have, than our film society will be known to the world in some next few years.
History is the proof, there are lots of Manipuri films, which are rewarded, with the National Film Fair Award and we have not many but some truly talented actors and actresses who are rewarded and respected with the national award also. So, in such society where there are all these resources, how can we say that we are lack in our own creativity?
The only thing that we need to do is to utilize them in the right way. In spite of producing those films where we can see lots of imitations from that Bollywood can't we produce something that are of our own, like; MATAM GEE MANIPUR, EMA GEE NINGTHEM, SAPHABEE, WANGMA WANGMA, OLANGTHAGEE WANGMADA, BROJENDRO GEE LUHONGBA, EESHANOU, MADHABEE, KHONTHANG, KHONJEL, etc. these are some of those Manipuri films where we can see the true reflection of our society and which help the world to understand us in the right way.
With the changes of time, we can also produce something new that is really interesting and that reflect not the mask creating culture of our society but the truth and the beautiful culture. And one more important thing is that even though the time changes we much not forget our origin and ourselves.
So, in spite of living on the imitation, it is time for us to make something that we feel proud to say "Yes this is Manipuri film". There are lots of people who are expert in the traditional martial arts. Why don't we introduce them with there talents? That will create a new history in the film society of Manipur.
By this article I just want to say or convey not to forget our origin and give up imitating other's culture and tradition as we have our own one of the best one.
Lenin Yangambam writes for the first time to e-pao.net
You can contact the writer at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on 20th January 2004.
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