The digital version of Manipuri feature film produced 50 years ago, Brojendragee Luhongba screened for the second time after a gap of two years received unaltered great deal of audience, signifying people’s enthusiasm to watch home grown classic cinema.
Disappearance of cinema houses coupled with advent of digital platforms are some of the undeniable factor for the condition of Manipuri cinema coming under great threat. Amid this situation, screening of Manipuri cinema by Manipur State Film Development Society (MFSDS) at its auditorium and their endeavour of digitalisation and restoration of old Manipuri movies gave some hope back to film maker and cine goer.
A week back, digital version of first feature film of Manipur directed by a Manipuri SN Chand, Brojendra gee Luhongba was screened at the auditorium of Manipur State Film Development Society (MFSDS) to mark the launching of SN Chand Cine Archive and Museum (SNCCAM) restored classic series. Although it is a 50 years old movie and already screened two years back during the golden jubilee celebration of Manipuri Cinema. Yet this time again, every age group starting from 20s to age of senior citizen thronged to enjoy the said movie.
Many in the audiences expressed positive feedback on screening of classic movie stating that watching 1970s movie in 2024s is a great privilege. It helps them to realise how Manipur was through the lens of cinema.
A scholar who is in mid 30s, Arnapal Meisnam expressed that watching the film Brojendragee Luhongba in 2024, five decades after it was first screened is eye-opening and interpreted the film as a critique of the institution of marriage.
While explaining some scene of movie, he commented that Brojendro running away from marriage for not having seen the woman beforehand seems outrightly unreasonable, yet the story nudges us to reflect on the uneasiness with the institution of marriage. Marriage or union per se is not wrong, but the narrow idea of marriage (and love) dictated by the society is unsettling for many. While Brojendro runs away from the marriage/home, it is Rita, his colleague in Churachandpur, who provides the critical provocations about gender norms to misogyny to patriarchal protectionism.
Rita also emerges as a sexual-intellectual agent as a foil to the Maloti, trapped in a patriarchal half-marriage, he observed and continued that “Another point I want to highlight, is Rita’s transition to Brojen’s sister and the latter going back to Maloti/marriage. Such a resolution is typical of conservative atmosphere of the time (the 19th century Victorian novels are infamous for such reductive resolution). In other words, the film should be read in a non-linear fashion and look for silences and disruptions that speak lot more than what the main plot, following a linear conventional story, would otherwise relay.”
One of the senior citizens said that watching a movie Brojendragee Luhongba which was produced during his youthful age after five decades is indeed a splendid moment and beyond expectations. The film has created a nostalgic feeling and took him back to era of 1970s.
The senior citizen highly appreciated the team of SNCCAM for their effort in preservation and restoration of Manipuri cinema and extended his heartfelt wish to accomplish their mission.
Another audience who is in mid 20s said that screening such classic movie has provided the opportunity to know how Manipur was during the then 1970s and how much change was brought in society with present context.
“Being a film lover, I wish many more such old movie are preserved and screened in days to come,” he expressed.
In an interaction with secretary of MFSDS, Sunzu Bachaspatimayum said that two Manipuri movies Brojendragee Luhongba and Ishanou was successfully digitalised and restored after setting up of SN Chand Cine Archive and Museum (SNCCAM) at MSFDS under directorate of Art and Culture in 2021. Now Imagi Ningthem is under process of restoration and digitalisation.
He continued and informed that Brojendragee Luhongba was digitalised solely by SN Chand Cine Archive and Museum. But in the case of Ishanou, digitalisation and restoration was carried out in collaboration with Film Heritage Foundation Mumbai.
Stating about the endeavour of digitalisation and restoration of Manipuri cinema, he said that in these 50 years of journey of Manipuri cinema, despite shortcoming of technologies, film luminaries of Manipur has given their great effort in producing good cinemas. Keeping in view that film is cultural heritage of society, the museum of MFSDS took up an initiative of archiving and digitalisation of celluloid film. This venture also served as an act of giving honor to people who have whole heartedly dedicated their life in promotion of Manipuri cinema.
Sunzu said that as many as 65 feature film of Manipur cinema are celluloid. Out of it, 10-15 movie is planning to digitise under the sponsorship of National Film Heritage Mission.
Highlighting SNCCAM, the only State-run Film Archiving and Museum in India, Sunzu mentioned that the museum is equipped with Film Conservatory Lab for film maintenance and training activities and a Film Vault Room for preserving celluloid negatives and positives prints.
To enhance the standard of SNCCAM adding more latest equipment, Brojendragee Luhongba was screened last week as a fund raiser. The turn up was satisfactory with the return of around Rs 2 lakh which is less than the expectation of Rs 4 lakh, he added and informed about the plan of screening revered Manipuri film by Aribam Shyam Sharma, Ishanou, shortly.
The MSFDS efforts in screening classic films restored through the SNCCAM are invaluable in preserving and imparting the cultural norms and values of the past. These screenings provide insight into the evolution of society over time. For instance, the recent screening of Brojendragee Luhongba, which attracted a nearly full house, signifies a bright future for film appreciation in the region.
In addition to highlighting the challenges and advancements in filmmaking techniques and storytelling, these films educate the new generation about their historical context, reflecting significant events and social movements. The series of films presented by the MSFDS will undoubtedly evoke nostalgia and resonate with themes crafted by eminent filmmakers of the celluloid era.
The writer is an award winning reporter
