The five-day long Indian Panorama Film Festival Manipur with Retrospective of Aribam Syam Sharma concluded at the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) Complex, Palace Auditorium, Imphal on Wednesday.
On the occasion, wife of late Irom Maipak, Irom (o) Rita Devi was honoured by the organiser.
“Had the hospital authority given proper care and attention to my husband, he would have been alive today. I can only imagine how happy he would be to enjoy this film festival,” Rita said.
Rita assured to contribute to the promotion of Manipuri cinema as a tribute to her late husband, Maipak who was also founder president of the All Manipur Cinematographer’s Association.
She was honoured by the organisers before the screening of Eigi Konna, a film cinematographed by Irom Maipak and directed by Bobby Wahengbam and Maipaksana Haorongbam. The film highlights the poor conditions of Manipuri pony in the state which is ironically the birthplace of polo. It bagged the Rajat Kamal Award at 67th National Film Awards that was held at Bigyan Bhawan New Delhi.
Of the 32 films that were screened during the festival, two of the films, namely ‘The Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh’ and ‘Eige Konna’ were cinematographed by Irom Maipak.
It may be mentioned that the festival is being held as the second phase of the golden jubilee celebration of Manipuri Cinema. It was inaugurated on December 11 at Palace Auditorium, MSFDS Complex during which two films directed by Aribam Syam Sharma namely Yelhou Jagoi (non-feature film) and Ishanou (feature film) were screened.
On the last day of the function, six films were screened. They are Sijou (feature film), Highways of Life (non-feature film), Surmounting Challenges (non-feature film), Khisa (non-feature film), Eigi Konna (feature film), Me Vasantrao (feature) and Imagi Ningthem (feature).
