Bobby Wahengbam's book fetches National award
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 13 2018: Well known documentary film maker, film critic, film activist and actor Bobby Wahengbam's book "Matamgi Manipur: The First Manipuri Feature Film" has been declared as the Best Book on Cinema in the 65 th National Film Awards 2017 which was announced today.

The announcement was made today at the National Media Centre, New Delhi before media persons by Anant Vijay, Chairperson of the Jury of the Best Writing on Cinema during a press conference of the Chairpersons of the juries of the different categories of the National Film Awards 2017 .

The citation says, "Bobby Wahengbam's book Matamgi Manipur: The first Manipuri Feature Film provides a vivid account of the sociopolitical scenario in which Manipur regional cinema was born.

Bobby Wahengbam's book 'Matamgi Manipur: The First Manipuri Feature Film'

The book denotes a compassionate account of the dreams, challenges, preparation, execution and success of the team involved.

The critical analysis of the film makes it more praiseworthy and insightful" .

President Ram Nath Kovind will present the Swarna Kamal and Rs 75000 to the author and the Swarna Kamal and Rs 75000 to publisher Angomningthou Preservation & Documentation during the National Film awards ceremony to be held on May 3 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Bobby Wahengbam aka Wahengbam Khemananda Singh (47) obtained Master degree from University of Bombay, Diploma in Film Production from XIC, Mumbai and a Certificate on Film Appreciation from FTII, Pune and has also assisted Gyan Correa, Sanjay Talreja, Lancha and Jahnu Barua.

He is a regular columnist for english daily The People's Chronicle writing extensively on cinema every Sunday for more than four years after contributing occasionally to the Poknapham, The Sangai Express, Imphal Free Press, Hueiyen Lanpao and Seven Sister Post since 1999 .

He has critically discussed good films like Kairee (1999, Amol Palekar, Marathi), Vaanaprastham (1999, Saji N Karun, Malayalam; The Good Road (2013, Gyan Correa Gujarati), Kothanodi (2016, Bhaskar, Assamese), Tree Tongues in Tripura (2015, Joshy Joseph, English/Tripuri) among others for the familiarity and promotion of regional cinema.

Many of his films have been showcased in various reputed film festivals including the 10th MIFF, 14th KFF, 6th KIMFFI, 11th MIFF 2010 and 3rd IDSFF of Kerala, 10th Sign Kerala.

His book "Manipuri Cinema: A World of Its Own" won "The Best Book on Manipuri Cinema" (MSFA, 2016) .

The Best Film Critic 2016 (MSFA) was conferred to him.

The book "Matamgi Manipur: The First Manipuri Feature Film" contains four major chapters.

Chapter I briefly reviews about World cinema and film theories before the production of Matamgi Manipur.

Chapter II contains a brief notes on Indian, Regional and Manipuri cinema prior to the production of Matamgi Manipur.

Chapter III concentrates on the making of the film where the text is exclusively based on the views of the artistes, singers, music directors, script writers and other professionals involved in the scheme of the film and Chapter IV has the writer's views and analysis on the film contextually and symptomatically with explicit and implicit interpretations.

The first two chapters serve as a prelude to the analysis with introduction to the dynamics of cinema.

Research started nine years back where interviews of the makers, crew members, singers and artistes were conducted.