Manipuri filmmaker Syam’s ‘Ishanou’ to travel to film fests across the globe

Imphal: After three decades of its release, legendary Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma’s classic flick ‘Ishanou’ is travelling to film festivals across continents once again in 4K avatar.Scheduled next month, the fiestas include Cinema Ritrovato Bolongo, Italy, The Heritage Film Festival, Berlin and Jio MAMI Mumbai. Ishanou will also be screened at Festival des 3 Continents, Nantes, France and Singapore International Film Festival.Produced in 1990, Ishanou had been officially selected in the “Cannes Classic Section” of the Festival de Cannes, France in May this year, and the film was previously an official selection to the “Un Certain Regard Section” of Festival de Cannes in 1991.Starring K Tomba and A Kiranmala, the 91-minute film deals with the Maibi (Meetei priestess) culture.The octogenarian filmmaker observed that his film’s success was possible only because of the rich cultural heritage of Manipur. “It’s the rich soil which gives us a unique cultural expression reflecting our identity. This very background has made the film possible,” said filmmaker Syam, a resident of Thangmeiband area in Imphal West district.Doyen of Manipuri cinema, Syam still yearns to make more films, and he is responsible for putting Manipuri cinema on the global map. To his credit, he has 33 non-fiction and 15 fiction films, which bagged multiple awards and travelled prestigious festivals the world over.“I would say that my devotion to cinema has paid off, and I am happy that a film based on the culture of a small community has been able to reach such heights,” he added. Underlining that the 4K restoration has given a new lease of life to Ishanou, he expressed gratitude to the concerted efforts of Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) and Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS).

Seven Bengali films will compete in the Bengali panorama section at 29th Kolkata Film Festival

The 29th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) will showcase seven Bengali films in the Bengali Panorama section. The films will compete for the Golden Royal Bengal Trophy and a prize of Rs 7.5 lakhs. Swastika Mukherjee stars in Bijoyar Pore and Matripaksha, directed by Abhijit Sridas and Rajesh Roy respectively. Rajdeep Paul and Sarmistha Maiti's Mon Potongo will also premiere in the section. Rajdeep Ghosh's Bonbibi features Parno Mittrah as a tiger widow in the Sunderbans. Other films include Amartya Sinha's Asampurno, Debapratim Dasgupta's Abar Ashibo Firey, and Anisul's Awnath. The festival will run from December 5 to December 12.

Film industry has failed to help animation films grow: Shoojit

Shoojit Sircar criticizes Bollywood and the Indian film industry for not promoting serious animation filmmaking in India like Japan. He suggests that big stars should lend their voices to characters in animation films to help the segment grow. Sircar highlights the lack of investment in animation and the underutilization of Indian talent in backhand production work for US animation films. He emphasizes the need to make more children's films and acknowledges his own failure to participate in animation. Sircar believes that animation films are not just for children and suggests that tax concessions or subsidies could boost the industry in India. Animation filmmaker Prasad Ajgaonkar agrees, stating that the Indian film industry is still stuck in the cartoon film phase and calls for more audience support for animation filmmakers.

Shooting at heritage sites adds a certain richness to the project: Filmmakers

Filmmaker Rahul Bhole believes that shooting at heritage sites, such as the Sabarkantha temples and Darbargadh haveli in Bhadarwa, greatly enhances a film's visual appeal. Getting permissions to shoot in Gujarat is easy, and the locals are cooperative. Some big Bollywood films like Satyaprem Ki Katha, Raees, Ok Jaanu, and Mohenjo Daro have been shot at these locations. The pol houses, a significant part of Gujarati culture, add richness to the projects. Other films like Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo, D-Day, Kai Po Che, and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam have also utilized Gujarat's heritage sites for their visuals.

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