Auto Driver | |
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Directed by | Meena Longjam |
Starring | Laibi Oinam |
Release date |
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Running time | 30 minutes |
Auto Driver is a 2015 Manipuri documentary film directed by Meena Longjam. It tells the story of Laibi Oinam [1] who took to driving a second-hand auto rickshaw in 2011, in a non-traditional profession for women in the Imphal city of Manipur, in order to support her ailing husband and sons' education. Produced over three years, it won the best social issue film in the non-feature category at the 63rd National Film Awards in 2015 and Best Short Documentary in the Audience Choice category at the 2017 Women's Voices Now Film Festival. [2] [3]
Laibi is a lady auto driver based in conflict torn Imphal city. In order to support an ailing husband and education of her two sons, she took up this profession defying a traditional society. Starting off as a daily wage labor in a brick farm where she earns only 60 rupees for loading 1000 bricks, she has to face the discrimination of passengers who shun lady auto drivers.
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