Matamgi Manipur


Matamgi Manipur is a 1972 Manipuri film and the first full-length cinema of Manipur. The movie is directed by Debkumar Bose and produced by Karam Monomohan, under the banner of K.T. Films Private Limited. The black and white film features Gurumayum Ravindra Sharma and Yengkhom Roma in the lead roles. Arambam Samarendra wrote the story and screenplay by Debkumar Bose. The film won the President's Medal at the 20th [National Film Awards]. It is an adaptation of Arambam Samarendra's theatrical play Tīrtha Yātrā.
In remembrance of the occasion of release of this first feature film of Manipur, every year, April 9 is celebrated as Mami Numit in the state. The film was processed at United Cine Laboratory under the supervision of Gauri Mukherjee. The credit titles were written by Khun Joykumar.
The film began
shooting on 3 December 1971 and was wrapped up in January 1972.

Plot

The film tells the story of a middle-class family with members who adhere to both new and old societal values. Their diametrically opposed attitudes pull them in different directions.
Tonsna, a retired Amin, has two sons, Ibohal and Ibotombi, and a daughter, Tondonbi. Ibohal is a fashionable, easy-going, spoilt young man. His wife Tampak wants to live the life of a virtuous, ideal housewife. Ibotombi is a progressive young man who challenges all old values and is angry that people do not understand the need to change their beliefs. Tondonbi, the sister, is a college student with ultra-modern ideas about life. She wants to enjoy life, making the best of every situation. Tonsa does not take the trouble to guide his children or help them adjust to a society that is slowly changing. The result is that Ibotombi is frustrated because the world does not change as fast as he would like, and Ibotombi makes a mess of his life. Tondonbi also ends up miserable and desperate.
It seems that the family is destined to disintegrate, but then they begin to understand each other better and decide to live together happily ever after.

Cast

  • 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

composed the soundtrack for the film and Khuraijam Phulendra and M. K. Binodini Devi wrote the lyrics. The playback singers are Chongtham Kamala, Arambam Jamuna and Aheibam Budhachandra. The gramophone records were done by His Master's Voice.

Books

wrote a book on the film titled Matamgi Manipur: The First Manipuri Feature Film. For the book, he won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Book on Cinema at the 65th National Film Awards held in 2018.

In popular culture

made a documentary film named as The First Leap in 2008. 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.