Karam Loya Film Festival 2016

James Khangenbam *

A scene from award winning film 'Eibusu Yaohanbiyu'

Five days of screening good cinema and meet the director session attended by National and international award winning filmmakers in both feature and non feature categories had sent a wave of awakening among the festival goers of Karam Loya Film Festival during the second week of May last.

KLLF which took place at Kiyamba Shanglen was organized by Chingleipak Cine Club, Bishnupur a group of filmmakers and film enthusiasts. Much acclaimed Khasi film Onaatah that won the national award in feature category was the opening film of the festival. Director Pradip Kurbah along with the lead actor and actress were invited to the festival.

The post screening interaction of the aesthetically made film on the theme of a rape victim and her approach to life added another dimension of watching the film as the director who came down from Meghalaya expressed that he researched for around two years before making the film and finally came up with a script.

Interactive sessions with reknown film makers and artistes on a daily basis before film screenings added another feather to the festival. Aspiring film makers, artists from around Bishenpur and other districts of Manipur attended the session.

Noted film director Romi Meitei, Chaoba Thiyam and actress Tonthoi Leishangthem interacted in an inclusive session. Matter of fact it is also learnt that some of the young aspiring film makers have already started making their own venture with short films by the time I started writing this article after getting inspired from the festival whose closing ceremony was held on 24 August with fanfare and participation from seniors who were honoured with respects.

Eibusu Yaohanbiyu directed by Haorongbam Maipaksana that clinched the National award recently in the non feature category was also screened during the festival. The story revolves around a football loving physically challenged school boy and his determination to take part in his school football team faces discrimination but ended up scoring the winning goal in the last moments when he replaced an injured team mate in the interschool championship final.

The film festival was a thrill and a happy ride for most of the people coming from other districts specially Imphal as one passes through highway with green trees on both sides of the highway as one gets closer to the venue. It was also an inclusive festival where the mentors enquire about the aspiration of the aspiring film makers during the technical session and give them specific discussions.

Besides sharing the challenges and failures the mentors had faced during their film making career and sharing the knowledge about the National and international film festival trends for contemporary film making. National award winning actress Thonthoi ended up acting many instances and focused on imparting the aspirants to learn in staying at the present moment in bringing about the best act in a film.

Mention may also be made that Haobam Pabankumar who recently won many accolades for his film Phumshang was also present during the festival. One of his films The First Leap was screened and he also shared many of his experiences to the curious audience of KLFF.

Longjam Meena’s National award winning documentary Auto Driver brought laughter in the hall as her character Leibi interestingly narrates her bold story of becoming a man like character while taking up her profession in the film.

Kivini Shohe’s Oh My Soul produced by National Film Division Corporation gave an insight to the life of gay community living in Nagaland. The film also portrays the hardship of the gay community at the back drop of heavy militarization in some instance.

A breeze of good cinema seem to have nourished the mind of the festival goers and the interaction with the film makers at the post screening session had opened the minds to a vast knowhow of creating a good story.

The reality of life, society getting reflected in a truthful manner. The inspiring fiction that pumps determination in one’s life striking the right code of catharsis. Awareness on environment for a social cause besides many other topics unfolded one after another at KLFF.

Some of the films which were screened during the festivals are Memory of a Heart directed by Tribeny Rai. Noong Aamadi Yeroom by Romi Meitei, Borax Hanrangya by Diganta Mazumdar, Kungyee by Chaoba Thiyam, The Mizo Uprising by Napolean RZ Thanga, Patkee Tharo by Oken Amakcham, Song of the Blue Hills by Utpal Borpujari, SOS by RK Suresh and Ratan Saikhom, The Head Hunter by Nilanjan Dutta etc.