Critics award for K Meghachandra
Source: The Sangai Express

New Delhi, March 28 2016: Meghachandra Kongbam, film critic of a vernacular daily and alumnus of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Benaras Hindu University has been declared the Best Film Critic award of the 63rd National Film Awards 2015 which was announced today by the juries of the National film awards 2015 at National Media Centre here.

He is the second Best Film Critic awardee of Manipur after RK Bidur Singh, film critic of a vernacular daily who received the award of 56th National Film awards 2008.He was selected among 22 entries for the award category.

Advaita Kala was the Chairperson of the Jury of the category with two members.

The citation says, "Meghachandra Kongbam interprets the world of Indian cinema for his readers in Manipuri.

His lucid understanding and love for cinema makes him the ideal "Film Whisperer" in Manipur, where access to Indian films is often limited" .

Meghachandra Kongbam, film critic

The award carrying Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus award) with Rs 75,000 will be distributed on May 3, 2016 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi by the President of India.

Meghachandra Kongbam is the eldest son of Late Kongbam Iboyaima who had credited writing of three Manipuri books namely Thoudang, Ningthem Pukhri Amasung Maree Leinaba Waree and Pakhangphal Leishaphal and Ngathem Ningol Kongbam Ongbi Ibeyaima who received the first Bal Sahitya Puraskar award in 2008 from the Sahitya Akademi New Delhi for her children book in Manipuri � Sorarengi Machanupi Atonbee Leimashang Amasung Atei Phunga Wareesing and also earlier wrote another children book-Umaibee Amasung Atei Phunga Wareesing.

Armed with skills of writing after obtaining Post Graduate Bachelor Degree in Journalism from Banaras Hindu University in 1979 and knowledge of cinema after attending Film Appreciation Course in FTII in 1985, Meghachandra Kongbam plunged into writing on cinema as film columnist in leading newspapers and journals of Manipur since 1985, and contributed towards the development of Manipuri cinema for Indian Cinema.

He started coverage of IFFI held in Bangalore 1990; Kolkata 1992, Delhi 1998 and so on.

He is now a regular film columnist of a leading Manipuri newspaper.

He was the founder member of Cine Artistes and Technicians Association, Manipur � an apex body of film scholars, critics, film makers, artistes and technicians established in 1998 in the capacity of Vice-President; and was the President of the Association for two terms (2000-2004).Founder Member of Manipur Film Journalists and Critics Association founded in 2002; he drafted the Manipuri Film Policy on behalf of the Government of Manipur.

His honours and recognitions included-jury member of the 2nd Manipur State Film Festival 1994 organized by the Government of Manipur; Board Director of the Manipur Film Development Corporation Ltd, a Government of Manipur undertaking, from 2002 to 2004; honoured with memento and certificate as film critic for contribution towards development of Manipuri Cinema in the Silver Jubilee Celebration of Manipuri Cinema in 1997 .

He was also awarded the Best Film Journalist Award 2010 by the Film Forum, Manipur.