‘Pandam Amada’ and ‘Highways of Life’ have respectively won the best feature film award and best non-feature film award in the 13th Manipur State Film Awards, 2020 announced on Wednesday by art and culture minister L Jayantakumar.
The Manipur State Film Awards, 2020 consists of 57 awards altogether out of which 33 is for Feature Film, 20 for non-feature film and 3 for best writing on Manipur Cinema and 1 for MSFDS Lifetime Achievement Award.
Pandam Amada, directed by national award winning film maker Oinam Gautam and produced by Konsam Saroja, also bagged several other awards including best direction, best screenplay among others in the feature category. The best direction award is shared with the doyen of Manipuri cinema, Aribam Syam Sharma for his latest work, Nongphadok Lakpa Atithi.
O Gautam, in an interaction with the Imphal Free Press, said that Pandam Amada winning the awards serves as a relief from the present turmoil and tension of COVID-19 crisis. Gautam, who had worked under Aribam Syam Sharma, also said that he has mixed feelings about sharing the best direction award with him. “I feel happy and at the same time I feel embarrassed as he is someone I always look up to,” stated Gautam.
He also credited the joint efforts of the crew, whom he said are mostly inexperienced in the field of films, and said that it is the teamwork that fetched the laurel for the film.
Best non-feature winner, Highways of Life is a detailed look at the high octane lives of Manipur’s highway truckers. It follows a group of truckers as they manoeuvre through the highways, putting their lives on the frontline, ferrying essential commodities to serve the people of Manipur.
Director of the film, Amar Maibam said that he would like to give credit to the drivers, crew and other supporters who extend their cooperation throughout the making of the film.
Saying that the idea of the film was incubated during a workshop organised by MSFDS; TC Foundation and Documentary Resource Initiatve, Docedge Kolkata in 2014, he said it really helped him in his venture. Produced by Films Division, government of India, the film also bagged other awards including best direction, best cinematography, best editing in the non-feature category.
The best film on sports in the non-feature category was awarded to I Rise, directed by Borun Thokchom and produced by Films Division. The best feature film (debut) was won by Eikhoishibu Kanano, directed by Ajit Yumnam and produced by Brojen Yumnam.
The best critic award was conferred to Aken Sijagurumayum, best child artist award was given to S Saolin. Best actor male and female were awarded to Amar Mayanglambam for his role in Eechadi Manini and Bala Tensubam for her role in Chaphu respectively.
The 13th MSFDS Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred to Smt. Ksh. Rashi Devi of Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai, Imphal for her outstanding & continuous contribution to the growth and development of Manipur Cinema.
Meanwhile, minister Jayantakumar, while announcing the awards, said that the announcement of this year’s Manipur State Film Awards, 2020 is delayed due to the prevailing situation of the COVID-19 pandemic even though the jury committee has already prepared the list of awardees in time.
The judgements were done by four panels of jury. The MSFDS Lifetime Achievement
Award was chaired by the minister. L Surjakanta Sharma chaired the feature film competition, Ronel Haobam headed the non-feature film and RK Bidur chaired the best writing on Manipuri cinema.
Commissioner, art and culture, M Joy; director, art and culture, Ng Uttam; chairman of the jury panel, L Surjakanta Sharma, Ronel Haobam and RK Bidur were also present during the award announcement.(DIPR)
