Matamgi Manipur (Meitei: ꯃꯇꯝꯒꯤ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔ, English: The Times of Manipur) is a 1972 Manipuri film and the first full-length cinema of Manipur.[1][2] The movie is directed by Debkumar Bose and produced by Karam Monomohan, under the banner of K.T. Films Private Limited.[3][4] The black and white film features Gurumayum Ravindra Sharma and Yengkhom Roma in the lead roles.[5] Arambam Samarendra wrote the story and screenplay by Debkumar Bose.[6][7] The film won the President's Medal (Rashtriya Chalchitra Purashkar) at the 20th National Film Awards.[8][9] It is an adaptation of Arambam Samarendra's theatrical play Tīrtha Yātrā.[10]

Matamgi Manipur
Poster
Directed byDebkumar Bose
Written byLokendra Arambam (dialogue)
Screenplay byDebkumar Bose
Story byArambam Samarendra
Produced byKaram Monomohan
StarringG. Ravindra Sharma
Yengkhom Roma
CinematographyShankar Banerjee
Stills:
Subhash Nandi
Edited byMadhusudan Banerjee
Music byAribam Syam Sharma
Music arranger:
Dilip Roy
Sound recordist:
Bani Dutta, R.C.A.
Anil Talukdar (outdoor)
Production
company
K.T. Films Private Limited
Distributed byK.T. Films Private Limited
Release date
  • 9 April 1972 (1972-04-09)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMeiteilon (Manipuri)
A still from the film

In remembrance of the occasion of release of this first feature film of Manipur, every year, April 9 is celebrated as Mami Numit (English: Cinema Day) in the state.[11] The film was processed at United Cine Laboratory under the supervision of Gauri Mukherjee. The credit titles (Meitei Mayek script) were written by Khun Joykumar.[12]

The film began shooting on 3 December 1971 and was wrapped up in January 1972.[13]

Synopsis

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The film narrates the story of a middle-class family which has votaries of the new and old values in society. They drift in different directions pulled by their diametrically opposite attitudes.

Tonsna, a retired Amin has two sons - Ibohal and Ibotombi - and a daughter, Tondonbi. Ibohal is a fashionable, easy-going and spoilt youngman. His wife, Tampak, wants to live the life of a virtuous ideal house-wife. Ibotombi is a progressive youngman who challenges all old values and feels angry why people do not understand the need to change old beliefs. Tondonbi, the sister, is a college girl, who has ultra modern ideas about life. She wants to enjoy life and in this pursuit makes the best of a given situation and the circumstance. Tonsna does not take the trouble of guiding his children or helping them adjust to the society which is slowly changing its image. The result is that Ibohal makes a mess of his life; Ibotombi is frustrated because the world of his existence does not change as fast as he would like it to do. Tondonbi also ends up in misery and desperation.

The family seems to be destined to disintegrate, but then they begin to understand each other better and decide to live together happily thereafter.

Cast

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  • Gurumayum Ravindra Sharma as Ibohal
  • Yengkhom Roma as Tampak, Ibohal's wife
  • Kangabam Birbabu as Ibotombi, Ibohal's younger brother
  • Aribam Syam Sharma as Tonsna, Ibohal's father
  • Elangbam Indira as Tondonbi, Ibotombi's younger sister
  • Kshetrimayum Rashi as Sunita
  • Wahengbam Bedamani as Memcha, Ibotombi's girlfriend
  • Baby Ameeta as Ibohal's daughter
  • Lokendra Arambam as Secretary at Secretariat Office
  • Dr. Moirangthem Nara as Doctor
  • Amujao
  • Kangabam Tomba as Birjit
  • Okendra

Soundtrack

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Aribam Syam Sharma composed the soundtrack for the film and Khuraijam Phulendra and M. K. Binodini Devi wrote the lyrics.[14] The playback singers are Chongtham Kamala, Arambam Jamuna and Aheibam Budhachandra.[15] The gramophone records were done by H.M.V.

Matamgi Manipur
Soundtrack album by
Chongtham Kamala, Aheibam Budhachandra, Arambam Jamuna
Released1972
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length15:12
LabelK.T. Films Private Limited
ProducerKaram Monomohan
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Lapna Lotna Leiyu"M. K. Binodini DeviChongtham Kamala03:53
2."Eigi Punshi Kari Thoknei Nangga"Khuraijam PhulendraAheibam Budhachandra03:52
3."Tha Tha Thabungton"Khuraijam PhulendraChongtham Kamala04:11
4."Chatli Chatli Mapham Khuding"Khuraijam PhulendraAheibam Budhachandra, Arambam Jamuna03:16
Total length:15:12

Books

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Bobby Wahengbam wrote a book on the film titled Matamgi Manipur: The First Manipuri Feature Film. For the book, he won the Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) Award for Best Book on Cinema at the 65th National Film Awards held in 2018.[16]

 
Bobby Wahengbam receiving the Swarna Kamal Award from the President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind at the 65th National Film Awards.
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Haobam Paban Kumar made a documentary film named as The First Leap in 2008.[17] It is about the get together of the cast and crew of Matamgi Manipur on a fine day in the 2000s, watching the movie, recollecting the sweet memories and having lunch.

References

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  1. ^ "Matamgi Manipur (1972)". www.moviebuff.com.
  2. ^ "Manipuri cinema in the last three decades". www.e-pao.net.
  3. ^ "Lifetime Achievement Award for Debkumar Bose". nenow.in.
  4. ^ "Year long celebration to mark 50 years of Manipuri cinema begins". Indian Express.
  5. ^ "MSFDS announced that the year long Golden Jubilee Celebration of Manipuri Cinema will be inaugurated". The Sangai Express.
  6. ^ "Lifetime Achievement Award for Matamgi Manipur Director". assamtribune.com.
  7. ^ "Matamgi Manipur - Sevendiary.com - Discover Northeast India - Culture, Lifestyle and Travel". sevendiary.com.
  8. ^ "Slideshow: Award winning Manipuri films". dnaindia.com.
  9. ^ "Now Showing MATAMGI MANIPUR".
  10. ^ "Profile of Manipuri Personalities: Who is Arambam Samarendra". www.e-pao.net.
  11. ^ "Year long Golden Jubilee Celebration of Manipuri Cinema begins with observation of Mami Numit". Imphal Free Press.
  12. ^ "The midlife crisis for Manipuri cinema". Indian Express.
  13. ^ Ranjan Yumnam. "HOW SATYAJIT RAY GOT FLOORED: 2ND IF POSTING". reader-list.sarai.narkive.com. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Matamgi Manipur Album on Gaana". gaana.com.
  15. ^ "Matamgi Manipur Album on Hungama". www.hungama.com.
  16. ^ "Bobby Wahengbam's book wins National Award". nenow.in.
  17. ^ "Haobam Paban Kumar: Award winning Film Director Profile by Daniel Chabungbam". www.e-pao.net.
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