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E-Pao! Incident - Matamgee Manipur

Matamgee Manipur

Pengba Aruuba Eshingee *



Tha tha thabung ton,
Nacha Moirangbee pobige...


As we switched the channel to ISTV Plus, we stumbled on Yengkhom Roma with a child on her back rendering the quintessential number in that black and white frame.

Not only it took us by surprise but also stole a moment from us.

An unscheduled visit to home gave a chance to sit down with the ageing parents and younger brother, who also took a break from work to be at home, and spend some quality time together in that pre-winter Manipuri evening after a gap of more than a decade.

It seemed time had flown just like that, but Matamgee Manipur with the classy cinematography, screenplay and storyline remained as fresh as the moring dew.

"This movie is older than you," father remarked.

"Can you believe, this is Manipur's first film," mother chipped in.

Unbelievable. Me and younger brother both noded in agreement. Today's Manipuri digitised films shot at even locales like Singapore didn't stand a chance against the timeless classic, which continued to be relevant even now.

Yet, in today's Manipur had Ibohal (played by Aeigya Robindro, as told by Ma) continued his drinking ways and the extra-marital affair he could be dead sure that he would be issuing a clarification on Poknapham.

Reading newspaper early in the morning unfailingly tickles the funny bone, not by Kanana Haijillibano but by the series of clarifications -- Sengdokchaba, Aniraksuba Sengdokchaba and so on.

With the wave of banning yoo (liquor) and kwa (pan) by various organisation at its peak, it is not uncommon to find lines like "Eina mayai kaba nisa yoo yollubagi/thakpagi (XYZ organisation) na toudanaba afaba paotak pibirambadagi amuk hanna toujararoi haina paoche gi thongda miyamda sengdokchari".

Amusing indeed but it is not only the newspapers who are raking in money from such clarifications, but those who continue to sell those banned items in black.

"Kwa matap amada lupa taret youre," a fren's sister, who felt the ban was not serving any purpose but only driving up the price, said. Well different people different perceptions.

However, there cannot be any second opinion on how the state has moved ahead in its pursuit to find ways to keep itself entertained amidst all those restrictions.

Thunder from Tapta at BOAT (Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre, for the uninitiated), DAWN 2006 contest of aspiring actors and child dancers and any cultural event are beamed live on ISTV, which now boasts of three channels.

Manipur's own version of Spelling Bee contest appeared to be a popular event amongst school children, while the recorded tapes of musical nites of Naba Volcanoes, Khun Joykumars, Asem Bimolas at their best, telecast late in the evenings give a chance for those who have a taste for oldies. Not to mention of the other two channels which play latest numbers from Manipuri films, be it Sadananda, Swamikumar, Pusparani or Mandakini.

For someone who has stayed away from such entertainment for for far too long, indeed for a long long time, Matamgee Manipur continues to provide new perspective to life...


Pengba Aruuba Eshingee , a pseudonym , writes regularly to e-pao.net . You can email the writer at [email protected] .This article was webcasted on 07th November 2006.


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