‘Loktak Lairembi’ gets another feather in its cap

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 13

Haobam Paban kumar’s ‘Loktak Lairembi’ – Lady of the Lake, has received yet another feather in its cap. The acclaimed Manipuri feature film has been invited to be screened in the 15th Anniversary Open Russian Festival of Film and Theater to be held at Blagoveshchensk city, Russia.

The festival will be from September 16 to 24 this year. It features both national and international competition sections. Pabankumar’s ‘Loktak Lairembi’ will compete with nine other films from around the world. 

The film before its screening in the Russian city in September, it will have a stopover at New Delhi for The Fresh Lense: New Cinematic Voices from Northeast India screening. It will be held from August 18 to 19, organised by the by India International Centre and North East Media Forum.

 According to the organiser this festival presents some significant voices among a new generation of filmmakers who following in the footsteps of veterans like Aribam Syam Sharma, Jahnu Barua and the late Dr. Bhabendra Nath Saikia, have made a mark at the international and national level.

Far away from the glamour world of big budget Hindi cinema – and consequently the gaze of the usual film goer in the Indian heartland – filmmakers in Northeast India have, over the years, been consistently telling their stories in an artistic and grounded manner.

Speaking on ‘Loktak Lairembi’, Paban kumar maintained that gun – a symbol of authority and ownership regimen others. “We forget that fear and anxiety instils further worries resulting in cross violence! I sincerely believe in resumption of our cultural values that propagates an inclusive society imbued with love, trust and tolerance and my film symbolically delves into the ‘fear psychosis’ that leads to mistrust and irresponsible conflicts”, he opined.

‘Loktak Lairembi’ has travelled as many as 19 international film festivals so far. The debut feature film of the director has garnered prestigious awards like: German Star of India Award – 14th Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart 2017, 26th G. Aravindan Puruskaram for the Best Debut Director 2016, FIPRESCI India – Critics Award – 9th Bengaluru International Film Festival 2017, NETPAC Award (Asian Select) – 22nd Kolkata International Film Festival 2016 and Golden Gateway Award – 18th Mumbai Film Festival 2016 among others.

It may be mentioned that Paban Kumar came to limelight with the film AFSPA 1958 winning the FIPRESCI and Jury prize at the 9th MIFF 2006. Some of his other notable films are ‘A Cry in the Dark’, ‘The First Leap’, ‘Mr. India’ and ‘Floating Life’ etc.