New Delhi, November 23: �Manipur cinema is finding its own niche with film makers like Makhonmani Mongshaba� said Neelam Kapur �After many years a Manipuri film, Yenning Amadi Likla finds place in India Panorama which goes on to prove that Manipuri Cinema is finding its own niche with filmmakers like Makhonmani Mongsaba.� Neelam Kapur, Director of the Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India made this statement in the preface of the brochure India Panorama 2007 which was published in connection with the 38th International Film Festival of India that kicked off today at Goa.

The last Manipuri feature film entered into the feature section of Indian Panorama of International Film Festival of India was A Syam Sharma�s Sanabi (The Grey Mare) in 1996. To make a film in a place where there is no cinema hall for screening the film is really a tough business.

Once Manipur had 58 cinema halls.

As the time passed, some halls had been converted into either shopping complexes or schools and the rest are at present running with Manipuri video films after replacing the 35-mm projector by LCD projector.

There has been no more Manipuri cinema after the year 2002.As the Manipuri cinema had its international recognition and it has played the major role in showing the unique culture and lifestyle of the people of Manipur to the international audience, a few women producers came out with the hope to survive Manipuri cinema.

When all the cinema halls in Manipur were running with LCD projector and no one took up celluloid film, a young woman RK Geetanjali produced Ayucki Singarei in the year 2005.It was the lone Manipuri feature film produced in the year 2005.But she could not find any halls in the capital city of Imphal for screening her film.

The film was shown at a cinema hall at Kakching for a few days and she lost in the business.

No Manipuri film was produced in the year 2006.In this year, another six bold Manipuri ladies namely Suniti, Saroja, Shantibala, Umarani, Victoria and Ibemhal, emerged as producers under an abbreviated title SURVI and produced Yenning Amadi Likla with the renown film director Makhonmani Mongsaba.

The film selected in the Indian Panorama 2007 will be world premiered at Ashok Theatre, Panaji on November 24 at 12 noon in the 38th International Film Festival of India.

At INOX-2, the same will be screened on November 24 at 7.30 pm and on November 26 at 8.45 am.

The 147-minute Manipuri feature film is about the story of a ten years old boy Sanatomba, a neglected child of alcoholic father Ibohal and Leipaklei working in a rice mill.

Sanatomba is growing up watching his father Ibohal�s bad temper.

Nature and peace loving Sanatomba watches his mother Leipaklei leave home after her fight with Ibohal.

Lonely Sanatomba is helped by his female friend Thambal�s mother.

Another couple Vijaya and Ibotombi are childless.

On hearing of Sanatomba�s plight Vijaya wants to adopt and raise him.

The film deals with difference in principles and values between the two women Leipaklei and Vijaya as also innocent Sanatomba�s desires and aspirations.

Master Muru and Baby Reshmi are main characters of the film.

Dilip handles the camera, K Ramu edits the prints and S Tijendra scored the music.

About the film, the film maker Makhonmani Mongsaba says that every child born into this world likes to play lovingly with their friends and tenderly live together on the mother earth.

They have no enemies and don�t know war.

� The film focuses exactly on the meaning of human relationship.

It attempts to understand the minds of an innocent child and underlines the importance of foster care of a child.

The entire film is a simple moving shots and normal method of film making�, he adds.

Born in Imphal and having acquired a Master degree in Literature, Makhonmani worked as an actor in both stage and film.

He worked with Ratan Thiyam in his various theatre productions and performed at many national and international theatre festivals.

He started his film career in 1980s.He has produced and directed short films, documentaries, tele serials, tele plays for Doordarshan Kendra, Imphal, Guwahati and Films Division.

He won State and National award as producer and Director for his first Manipuri feature film Chatledo Eidi.

At present, he is one of the Board Directors of the Manipur Film Development Corporation Ltd.

Script Panel Committee Members of National Film Development Corporation, Kolkata.

He was a jury member for the 51st National Film Awards 2003.He is the president of the Cine Artistes and Technicians Association Manipur.

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