Paban Kumar's films set to premiere in Russia
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 06 2024: Critically acclaimed Manipuri filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar is all set to take the centre stage at the 20th Altyn Minbar Karan International Film Festival, with two of his narrative features, "Joseph's Son" and "Nine Hills One Valley", selected for screening at the festival, which is underway from September 6 to 11 in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia.

The festival, sponsored by the Russian Government, is being jointly organised by Republic of Tatarstan and Russia Islamic World under the motto "Through the dialogue of culture to the culture of the dialogue" .

"Joseph's Son" will compete for the main awards in the competition section, while "Nine Hills One Valley" will be featured in the non-com-petition section under the category, "The Fate of Indian Tribes" .

Both Haobam's films delve into the complexities of Manipur's multi-ethnic society, presenting narratives that resonate deeply with the struggles and hopes of the people.

"Joseph's Son" follows a father s delusional journey as he searches for his missing son, who disappeared after a football match in the city.

The film captures the challenging dynamics of a society divided by conflict and communal discord.

The film is primarily shot in various dialects spoken in Manipur, with 60 per cent of the dialogue in Tangkhul dialect; alongside Meeteilon, Thadou, Nepali, and Bihari.

Renowned Tangkhul folk singer Rew-ben Mashangva plays the protagonist and characters from other communities are included to represent the true mosaic of Manipur.

Haobam's foray into fiction began with his 2016 debut "Loktak Leirembee (Lady of the Lake)", a film that received acclaim for its poetic style and political commentary on the weaponisation of traditional society.

The film premiered at the Berlin and Busan International Film Festivals and marked a significant departure from Haobam's earlier work in documentaries, such as the award-winning "AFSPA 1958" .

His 2006 documentary "A Cry in the Dark" made history as the first Manipuri documentary to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Reflecting on his latest projects, Paban Haobam described them as personal explorations of the complex identity politics and discord that define life in Manipur.

"These films are my journey of grappling with the inherent dilemmas of being born in a place absorbed with the conflicting dynamics of a multi-ethnic society," he explained.

Comment