MA Singh passes away
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 10 2013 : Renowned Manipuri filmmaker and National awardee, Maibam Amuthoi Singh, popularly known as MA Singh, is no more.

He passed away at BM Birla Heart Institute, Kolkata at 8.30 pm of March 9.MA Singh was undergoing treatment after he was diagnosed with Deep Venous Thrombosis on his left leg.

He was admitted in BM Birla Heart Institute, Kolkata where January 11, 2013.After undergoing two amputation surgeries on March 25 and 28, he went into coma never to gain consciousness.

On March 9, 2013, he breathed his last at 8.30 pm.

MA Singh was the first Manipuri to be technically trained in film craft at the prestigious National Film and Television Institute of India, FTII, Pune.

He went on to earn another distinction of being a double graduate of FTII.

After completing his diploma in film-editing in 1971, he continued pursuing film studies and completed diploma in direction in 1974 .

MA Singh

MA Singh is particularly known for his path breaking Manipuri feature film Sana Keithel, which went on to bag the prestigious National Film Award with President's Medal in the 31st National Film Festival in 1984 as the Best feature film in Manipuri.

Edited and directed by him, Sana Keithel followed the neo realistic tradition of the new wave era with MA Singh daring to shoot the entire film with real character (non-actors) placed in real settings, a formula that produced the everlasting enigma of Sana Keithel.

Over and above the numerous documentary films he made, he also directed and edited the first Manipuri colour feature film, Langlen-Thadoi produced by KP, Films, Imphal in 1977.Besides his film-making activities, he served in various capacities.

He was a Jury member for Script Board of NFDC for three consecutive years.

He was an approved producer and director of Prasar Broadcasting Corporation of India, and an empanelled producer of Doordarshan Imphal Kendra and Programme Production Centre, North East.

He served as visiting lecturer of media study centres of different institutes and also ran a full-fledged media course, entitled 'Media & Media Personalities' that produced new talents in the field of news-reading, public announcement, public speaking, interviewing and acting technology and film-making.

During 1975 to 76, he associated with Publicity Department of Government of Manipur and compiled and edited 9 (nine) newsreels on news events in Manipur.

He also worked in Mumbai film industries, Mumbai Doordarshan and Satellite Project (ISRO) Ahmadabad.

MA Singh played catalytic role in forming and running Cine Club Imphal and the Manipur Film Council which later became the Manipur Film Development Corporation.

Born on October 18, 1941, MA Singh, a resident of Kwakeithel Akham Leikai, Imphal, is survived by his wife and four sons and one daughter.