Neelamani Devi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 September 1938 Thongjao Keithel Leikai, Thoubal District, Manipur, India |
| Died | Thongjao Manipur |
| Occupation | Master potter |
| Known for | Pottery arts |
| Spouse | Naorem Shyamjai Singh |
| Parent(s) | Kharaibam Devasingh Singh Kharaibam Ongbi Sanajaobi Devi |
| Awards | Padma Shri Tulsi Samman Award National Award for Master Craftsman Samaj Kalyan Seva award Lions Karmayogi Award |
Neelamani Devi is an Indian craftswoman and master potter from Manipur. [1] Her creations have been the theme of two documentary films; Mittee aur Manab by renowned filmmaker, Mani Kaul, and Nilamani: The Master Potter of Manipur, by Aribam Syam Sharma. [2] The TV Series, Mahabharata also featured her works on one of the episodes. The Government of India awarded her the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2007, for her contributions to the art of pottery making. [3]
Neelamani Devi was born to Kharaibam Devasingh Singh and Kharaibam Ongbi Sanajaobi on 1 September 1938 at Thongjao Keithel Leikai, Thoubal District in the northeast Indian state of Manipur and received the early lessons in pottery making from her mother. [2] She lost her parents during childhood, but with sponsorship from the Khadi and Gram Udyog Mandal, continued her studies at Somthal Pargana, Bihar and completed her training in 1960. Her career started as a demonstrator at the Directorate of Industries of the Government of Manipur, but left the job and returned to her village to start Pottery Training Cum Production Centre in 1966. There, she trained the local women in pottery making which is known to have helped them to earn their livelihoods. [2]
Devi has traveled in India and abroad with her works; she has been a member of the Indian delegation who participated in the Five Indian Artisans exhibition and demonstration at the Museum of Ethnography, Sweden, as a part of the Festival of India. [4] She also participated in exhibitions and demonstrations at several places in Japan such as the Hyōgo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe, (The Art of the Adivasi), Tobacco and Salt Museum, Tokyo, Tougen Museum, Shirane and Yamanasi, Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore, and Mithila Museum, Tokamachi and Nigata (Indian Adivasi Art Exhibitions). [4] In 1986, renowned filmmaker, Mani Kaul, made a documentary film on Devi, titled Mittee aur Manab and Aribam Syam Sharma followed suit in 2003, with his non-feature film, Nilamani: Master Potter of Manipur, [5] made for Doordarshan, Guwahati. [6] One of the episodes of the Indian TV series, Mahabharata and the first three episodes of Mahabharata TV series made by French Television featured her pottery creations. [5] The details of her work have also been documented in print in a book, Other Masters : Five Contemporary Folk and Tribal Artists of India, published in 1998 by the Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India. [7] The book is a prescribed text for academic studies at University of Goa. [8]
Devi received two awards in 1986, the National Award for Master Craftsman with a Certificate of Honour from the Government of India and Tulsi Samman Award from the Government of Madhya Pradesh. [4] During 2005–2006, she received two more awards, Samaj Kalyan Seva award during her trip to Sweden and the Karmayogi Award from the Lions Club International. [2] The Government of India honoured again, in 2007, by including her in the Republic Day honours list for the civilian award of the Padma Shri. [3]
Aribam Syam Sharma is an Indian filmmaker and composer from Manipur. He debuted in the first Manipuri film Matamgi Manipur as an actor. In 1974, he directed his first movie Lamja Parshuram. It became the first Manipuri film to run for 100 days in the box office. His 1979 film Olangthagee Wangmadasoo was the first ever and the only Manipuri film to run for 32 weeks. It also broke the local box office records of Sholay.
Ishanou is a 1990 Indian Meitei language film written by M. K. Binodini Devi and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. The movie stars Anoubam Kiranmala and Kangabam Tomba in the lead roles. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. In 2023, it was recognised as a "World Classic" by the Cannes Film Festival 2023 and it was the only film selected from India for the event for that year. The movie was first aired in Doordarshan and later released in Usha Cinema, Paona Bazar on 6 July 1990.
Khumanthem Ningol Nameirakpam Ongbi Ibemni Devi was an Indian singer of traditional music, known for her expertise in the Khongjom Praba genre of Manipuri music. The Government of India honoured Ibemni Devi in 2012, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri.
Haobam Ongbi Ngangbi Devi was an Indian classical dancer and musician, known for her expertise in the Manipuri Dance forms of Lai Haraoba and Raas. In 2010, the Government of India awarded Haobam Ongbi Ngangbi Devi the Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.
Kshetrimayum Ongbi Thouranisabi Devi is an Indian classical dancer and author, specialising in the Indian classical dance form of Manipuri. She was honoured by the Government of India in 2003 with Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.
Olangthagee Wangmadasoo is a 1980 Indian Meitei language film written by M. K. Binodini Devi, produced by G. Narayan Sharma and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. The film features Kangabam Tomba, Yengkhom Roma and Kshetrimayum Rashi in the lead roles. The movie was censored in 1979 and released at Friends Talkies, Paona Bazar on 18 January 1980. It was the first ever and the only Manipuri film to run for more than 30 weeks, till date. The film ran for 32 weeks at the box office.
Leipaklei is a 2012 Indian Meitei language film directed and produced by Aribam Syam Sharma. It stars Leishangthem Tonthoi in the title role. The story of the film was written by Arambam Samarendra and screenplay by Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi. Leipaklei was screened on the inaugural day of 5th Guwahati Film Festival 2012. It was also screened at the 18th Kolkata International Film Festival and Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) held at Jeonju, South Korea. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 60th National Film Awards.
Imagi Ningthem is a 1981 Indian Meitei language film directed by Aribam Syam Sharma and written by M. K. Binodini Devi. It won the Golden Montgolfiere at the Festival des 3 Continents, Nantes in 1982. The film was also screened at many International Film Festivals, which include Denver International Film Festival, London Film Festival, Locarno International Film Festival, Montreal International Film Festival and International Film Festival of India. It won two awards at the 29th National Film Awards.
Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi was an Indian novelist, short story writer, playwright, lyricist and member of the royal family of Manipur. She was the last princess of the erstwhile Kingdom of Manipur. She published books under the name Binodini. She was best known for her 1976 novel Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi.
Nongphadok Lakpa Atithi is a 2019 Indian Meitei language film directed by Aribam Syam Sharma and produced by Deepak Sarmah. It stars Ningthoujam Rina and Lairenjam Olen in the lead roles. The film was premiered at the 3rd Guwahati International Film Festival 2019 as the Opening Film of the Indian section. It is based on Lamabam Viramani's short story Atithi. It was written as a radio play by M. K. Binodini Devi under the title Nongphadok Lakpada. The adapted screenplay of the film was done by Aribam Syam Sharma. It won four awards at the 13th Manipur State Film Festival 2020.
Paokhum Ama is a 1983 Indian Meitei language film and also the first colour cinema of Manipur. The film is directed by Aribam Syam Sharma and written by M. K. Binodini Devi. It stars Kangabam Tomba and Yengkhom Roma in the lead roles. The movie was premiered at the Tyneside International Film Festival, United Kingdom.
Sanabi is a 1995 Indian Meitei language film written by M. K. Binodini Devi and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. The movie stars Haorongbam Deben and R.K. Sushila in the lead roles. It is jointly produced by Doordarshan and National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 43rd National Film Awards. Sanabi got selection at the International Film Festival of India, 1996 and Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt, 1996.
Saaphabee is a 1976 Indian Meitei language film written by Sarangthem Bormani, produced by G. Narayan Sharma and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. The film features Kangabam Tomba and Ngangom (O) Subadani in the lead roles. It was released at Usha Cinema, Paona Bazar on 13 July 1976. The movie won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 24th National Film Awards. It is based on the famous Manipuri folk play Haorang Leishang Saaphabee. It is the first Manipuri folk film.
Oinam Gautam Singh is an Indian film director and editor who works in Manipuri films. He started his career in Manipuri cinema as an editor and later took up direction since more than a decade. One of the successful filmmakers in Manipuri Cinema, he is the recipient of many awards, including a National Film Award for his 2011 movie Phijigee Mani. Gautam has worked under eminent film personalities like Aribam Syam Sharma and Oken Amakcham. He had been a Jury Member of Indian Panorama for 45th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2014.
Lamja Parshuram is a 1974 Indian Meitei language film directed by Aribam Syam Sharma and produced by G. Narayan Sharma for N.S. Films. The script was written by Elangbam Dinamani Singh and story by G.C. Tongbra. The movie features Kangabam Tomba in the title role, and Wahengbam Bedamani as the lead female protagonist. It was released on 24 April 1974 at Pratap Talkies, Paona Bazar. The film ran for more than 100 days and became the first Manipuri hit feature film.
Irom Maipak was an Indian cinematographer from Imphal, Manipur. He was the founding president of the All Manipur Cinematographers Association. Maipak had worked for more than three decades in Films and Television industry. He received the prestigious National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Cinematography at the 49th National Film Awards.
Orchids of Manipur is a 1993 non-feature Indian Meitei language film scripted by M. K. Binodini Devi and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. It is produced by Sh. Tomchou Singh under the banner of Manipur Film Development Corporation (MFDC) Limited. The film was screened at the second edition of Fragrances from the North East 2014, a three-day festival of cinema from the northeast.
Manipuri Pony is a 2013 non-feature Indian Meitei language film scripted by Aribam Gautam and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. It is produced by Films Division of India. The film won the National Film Award for Best Exploration / Adventure Film at the 60th National Film Awards. The movie was also selected in the Indian Panorama of the 44th International Film Festival of India 2013 and the Mumbai International Film Festival in 2014.
Lourembam Bino Devi is a practitioner and a popularizer of the appliqué art of Manipur called Leeba in the Meitei language. The Leeba art is used in creating Monmai which is a decorative circular appliqué art piece used in covering both ends of the traditional Manipuri bolster pillow. In the olden days, Leeba was practiced at "Phiribi Loishang", which is a house for maintaining clothes worn by the deities and royals. The apparels used by the royals, including shoes, were mostly designed using the Leeba technique. Bino Devi has devoted her life to practice this art form and to revive it by trying to transmit her skills to younger generation of interested women. She has been providing this training in collaboration with the Heritage Foundation of Mankind, a Non-Governmantal Organization located in Imphal. She has also conducted several workshops at Imphal and at various other places in India.
