| AFSPA, 1958 | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Haobam Paban Kumar |
| Produced by | Bachaspatimayum Sunzu Haobam Paban Kumar |
Release date |
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Running time | 77 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Manipuri |
AFSPA, 1958 is a 2006 Manipuri documentary film directed by Haobam Paban Kumar in his directorial debut [1] [2] and produced by Bachaspatimayum Sunzu and Haobam. [3] The film won the National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film at the 56th National Film Awards. [4]
This documentary covers civil disobedience in Manipur against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958. It highlights the protests that followed the 2004 murder of Thangjam Manorama, [5] where residents protested the broad powers given to security forces under AFSPA. One famous photograph from this time shows 30 middle-aged women marching naked through Imphal, the state capital, to the Assam Rifles headquarters [6] [7]
At the 10th Ismailia International Film Festival in Egypt, the film won three awards. [8] It also received both the International Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize at the Mumbai International Film Festival. [9] Additionally, it was honored with the Swarna Kamal at the National Film Awards and was selected for screening at MoMA in New York. [10] [8]
Richard Kupers of Variety (magazine) noted "Though flawed by conventional documentary standards, AFSPA, 1958 has an undeniable fury. Comprised mostly of incendiary footage, Haobam Paban Kumar’s 77-minute documentary could be trimmed to an hour for broadcasters." [11]