Seema Awungshi makes history with 'I Hanunghaoga'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Ukhrul, November 17 2023: Seema Ks Awungshi is making history in the Tangkhul film industry.

She made her debut in the field of film direction in 2022 with her movie 'I Hanunghaoga' (Let Me Return), produced in Tangkhul dialect under Meiphung Productions.

Despite being new to the venture (direction), Seema had worked hard and showed immense dedication to the production of the film and ensured a balance between the story line which was based on a true story and the picturisation.

Her efforts paid off with the film receiving two awards at the recently- concluded 15th Manipur State Film Awards 2023.The movie garnered Seema Awungshi both the Best Film Award in the non-Meiteilon category and the Best Art Direction Award.

The award distribution ceremony is likely to be held in December this year.

With the two awards, Seema has set remarkable precedence by becoming the first women movie director among the Tangkhul filmmakers to have won not one but two awards simultaneously for her film as a director.

In an interview with The People's Chronicle at her Meiphung Productions office where she is the chief operating officer (COO), Seema talked about her reaction on her movie winning double awards and various aspects of her journey with Meiphung Productions since 2014."Honestly, I did not expect my movie to receive such recognition, as it was my debut venture in film direction and I am still learning the ropes.

But I was overwhelmed when an official from the Manipur State Film Awards 2023 rang me up and informed that my movie has won two awards," Seema said.

It is a moment of celebration for Seema's entire team as well as the Tangkhul film fraternity.

"The awards mean a lot to me and my work and the credit for this is due to my entire team at Meiphung Productions, and the cast and crew members who all helped me reach this milestone," said Seema, who is also the host of a talk show titled 'ShArum', streamed at Meiphung Productions YouTube channel, which has completed three seasons so far.

"I'm particularly thankful to our CEO (Meiphung Productions) Aning Ruivah, who had his trust in me and assigned me the task of the movie's direction.

In fact, he is the one who gave me the opportunity to try my hands on this new venture," she said, while also thanking the Manipur State Film Award 2023 for recognizing her efforts and hard work.

For Seema, who had earlier assisted in the direction of a previous film 'Khanaowa Shongza', recognition of her directorial efforts has made a big impact in her career.

"This just shows that with sincere efforts and perseverance, we can do it.

We should never give up walking the path of success," she said.

Seema said, "When I was assigned my first directorial project; I was excited yet a bit nervous.

But I knew I had to prove myself worthy and bring my best to the project".

'I Hanunghaoga', the sixth film produced by Meiphung Productions, has its unique take on a true story, written by Obed Vasha.

For Seema, the challenge came with ensuring that the movie was true to the storyline while also not appearing to be melodramatic.

"At first, it was a bit hard, as it required me to work closely with my crew and cast to ensure that the movie maintained a certain tone.

We had to make out elements that would stay true to the story without distorting the original message".

Aside from this, another challenge that Seema faced was to tastefully depict the struggles experienced by the true story's protagonist played by debutant Yursem Luithui co-starred by Angel Shimrah and Kanring Vashum.

"It had to be both creative and tactful while conveying the drama that follows the journey of a teenager to an adolescent; it is about infatuation, immature decisions, living a life without God, how it affected him and how he returned to God," she related.

In her message to local film fraternity, Seema stressed the importance of having a "can-do" attitude and never giving up in the face of challenges.

"The world of filmmaking is filled with challenges, but it's through hard work, dedication and determination, that success can be achieved".

She also said that the film industry is a collaborative art form and reminded that in order to be successful, it is necessary to support one another across the film industry.

Seema completed her 10+2 from the Manipur Public School and went on to complete her graduation at the distinguished Miranda House, Delhi University.

Having acquired a Bachelor's Degree, Seema took the next step to get her Masters in Delhi University.

She then proceeded to do a course in Film Appreciation conducted by Film & Television Institute of India, Pune and held at Manipur University.

But before she stepped into the world of cinema, she had a very different careerpath.

"I was a part of the banking industry; I had worked in Bank of America in Gurgaon and American Express in Gurgaon," she said.

She also said she gained work experience from her engagement in Tangkhul Students' Union Delhi and Tangkhul Women League, Delhi.

Thereafter in 2014, Seema decided to start out with Meiphung Productions to kick-start her journey in the film industry.

Under this production banner, she took charge as the chief operating officer and has been working hard to come up with creative and innovative solutions to produce a meaningful movie or two a year.

Since its inception, the Meiphung Productions has produced and released as many as seven Tangkhul feature films with the latest being 'Zingthanwo' premiered in Ukhrul town recently.

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