Manipuri cinematographer Irom Maipak succumbs to Covid
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 20 2021:
Acclaimed Manipuri cinematographer Irom Maipak, who received numerous state and national awards, succumbed to COVID-19 on Thursday at Raj Medicity here.
He was 52 and left behind his wife, a son and a daughter.
It is said that after testing positive for COVID-19, he was admitted to Raj Medicity on May 3 for treatment.
However, he succumbed to post Covid-19 complications around 12.30 am Thursday.
Born on August 20, 1969 at Sagolband Salam Leikai, Maipak was an experienced cinematographer who could handle several formats including celluloid, video and digital.
Moreover, he received numerous state and national awards in the field of Cinematography.
Maipak was a recipient of Rajat Kamal Award for Best Cinematography in the 49th National Film Award 2002 in the non-feature film category for the film 'The Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh'.
He was awarded for the Best Cinematography in the 13th Manipur State Film Festival 2020 in the feature-film category for the film 'Nongphadok Lakpa Atithi' and was also decorated with Maibi Award for the Best Cinematographer in the 7th Manipur State Film Festival 2010 in non-feature film category for 'Mr India' .
He also bagged NETV People's Choice Award 2005, Guwahati for the Best Cinematography.
Maipak also was given Best Videographer Award in the All Manipur Video Film Festival, 1993 for the feature film 'Kinepna Pacha' .
One of the finest cinematographers of the state, Maipak was also involved in numerous awards winning films including 'Phum-Shang' of Haobam Paban Kumar, which won the Golden Conch in the 14th Mumbai International Film Festival, 2016 and 'Ima Sabitri', directed by Bobo Khuraijam, which won the Silver Conch Award in the 15th Mumbai International Film Festival, 2018.Moreover, he was the cinematographer of the biographical film 'Guru Laimayum Thambalngoubi Devi' directed by the legendary film maker Aribam Syam Sharma.
He also cinematographed best feature film of the 5th Manipur Film Award, 2006 'Cheina' directed by Oken Amakcham.
Members of MSFDS' Executive Board and the Celebration Committee of the Golden Jubilee of Manipuri Cinema convened a spontaneous, virtual condolence assembly and expressed condolence on the sudden passing away of Irom Maipak, who was also an important employee of MSFDS as a cameraman.
In a release, MFSDS informed that with the passing away of Irom Maipak, the film fraternity of Manipur has lost four of its personalities to the on-going pandemic, the other three victims being director-producer-lyricist Moirangthem Kamaljeet Singh alias EmKay Jeet, a rising actor from Kairembikhok, Wangjing Sagolsem Romio Meitei and cinematographer-editor Hem Athokpam.
Candles were lit in the loving memories of Irom Maipak as well as of Em Kay Jeet, Sagolsem Romio Meitei and Hem Athokpam at the newly erected Memorial for Manipuri Cinema at the MSFDS complex, Palace Gate with strict adherence to Covid appropriate SOP, the release added.
Meanwhile, IPAK Film Production Manipur and Film Forum Manipur also mourned the demise of Irom Maipak and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.
The film bodies also shared the pain of the bereaved family.
Condoling the untimely demise of Irom Maipak, Television and Cine Foundation Manipur, in a release, lamented that it lost a gem who contributed largely towards bringing laurels for the state.
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