Manipuri cinema shines at National Awards

Kolkata, Mar 8 : Manipuri cinema today got a shot in the arm having bagged the best debut director award and the best supporting actress award at the National Film Awards. Imphal-based journalist Borun Thokchom's film "The Silent Poet", which shows 15 minutes of unused footages of 'Iron lady' Irom Sharmila's life under custody, won the best debut film of a director award. He is happy that through his work he has been able to tell the untold story of Sharmila and bring her trials and tribulations to the fore at the national level. "It is a matter of pride not only for me but also for Manipur," he told PTI from Imphal. The film, which recently won applause at the Mumbai International Film Festival, not only reflects on how Sharmila has kept her 11-year-long hunger strike against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) but also reveals the poetic side of the activist, who is force-fed through her nose. Young Manipuri actress Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi surprised everybody by bagging the best supporting actress award for the film "Phijigee Mani" (My Only Gem), which also won the best Manipuri film award. "Although I didn't believe this announcement initially but I am very proud of it. I have acted in around 13 feature films so far, but I think this award marks the beginning of my career," the 24-year-old actress who is now hoping for roles in Bollywood said.