Saaphabee | |
---|---|
![]() Official Poster | |
Directed by | Aribam Syam Sharma |
Screenplay by | Sarangthem Bormani |
Story by | Sarangthem Bormani |
Produced by | G. Narayan Sharma |
Starring | Kangabam Tomba Ngangom (O) Subadani |
Cinematography | Deojibhai Padhiar |
Edited by | Madhusudan Banerjee |
Music by | Aribam Syam Sharma |
Production company | N.S. Films |
Distributed by | N.S. Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 116 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Meitei language (officially called Manipuri language) |
Saaphabee is a 1976 Indian Meitei language film written by Sarangthem Bormani, produced by G. Narayan Sharma and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. [1] [2] [3] The film features Kangabam Tomba and Ngangom (O) Subadani in the lead roles. [4] It was released at Usha Cinema, Paona Bazar on 13 July 1976. [5] The movie won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 24th National Film Awards. [6] [7] It is based on the famous Manipuri folk play Haorang Leishang Saaphabee. [8] It is the first Manipuri folk film. [9] [10]
It is the immortal love story of prince Loya Naha Saaphaba, son of Thongnang, the king of Khuman region and princess Haorang Leishang Saaphabee, daughter of Tabung, king of Kege region. The film focuses on Kege region and Khuman region settled in opposite side of Loktak Lake, the biggest fresh water lake in North East India. The two kings are good friends and even swear that their son and daughter shall marry when they grow up. King Tabung does not recognize prince Saaphaba and kills him as he has mistaken him an intruder. Princess Saaphabee also kills herself. Heartbroken Tabung and Thongnang decide to kill themselves in a spear fight to follow them. Khamnung Kikoi Louonbi, the ancient Meitei goddess of death concealing her appearance in the sky with a thunderous voice stops them in the midst of lighting and thunder. Saaphaba and Saaphabee are seen in the sky proceeding towards the feet of the Almighty God.
(Meghachandra Kongbam, Imphal Review of Arts and Politics)
Aribam Syam Sharma composed the soundtrack for the film and Konsaba Ibochou and G. Joykumar Sharma wrote the lyrics. [11] The movie has four songs sung by Aheibam Syam Sharma, Arambam Jamuna and Khun Joykumar. [12]
Saaphabee | |
---|---|
Soundtrack album by Aheibam Syam Sharma, Arambam Jamuna, Khun Joykumar | |
Released | 1976 |
Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
Length | 18:19 |
Label | N.S. Films |
Producer | G. Narayan Sharma |
No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Mapok Langol Khudingda" | Aheibam Shyam Sharma, Arambam Jamuna | 04:39 |
2. | "Eidi Pakhang Shareeni" | Khun Joykumar | 04:06 |
3. | "Khoyumgumna Saklotpa" | Arambam Jamuna Devi | 04:28 |
4. | "Ngasi Korou Nongjada" | Aheibam Syam Sharma, Arambam Jamuna | 05:06 |
Total length: | 18:19 |
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.
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.
Matamgi Manipur is a 1972 Indian Meitei language 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.
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.
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.
Ashangba Nongjabi is a 2003 Indian Meitei language film written by M. K. Binodini Devi. It is produced and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. Bhogen, Lingjelthoibi and Ningthoujam Rina played lead roles in the movie. The movie is based on M. K. Binodini Devi's 1966 play of the same title. The play draws on the playwright’s interactions with Ramkinkar Baij, the eminent sculptor, with whom she studied in Santiniketan, and who has left behind a whole suite of sculptures and paintings of Binodini.
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.
Kangabam Tomba is an Indian actor from Imphal, Manipur. He started his career in theatre. His first appearance in movies is in Matamgi Manipur, the first Manipuri full-length feature film where he played a college guy. His is popularly known as Lamja Tomba for his title role in the 1974 movie Lamja Parshuram. Tomba bagged the Best Actor Award at the 1st Manipur State Film Festival 1984 for the film. He was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 11th Manipur State Film Awards 2018.
Yelhou Jagoi is a 1995 non-feature Indian Meitei language documentary film scripted by Rajkumar Achoubasana and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. It is conceptualized by Kapila Vatsyayan and produced by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi. The film was screened at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2019, Japan.
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.
Nakenthana Ngairi is a 2006 Indian Meitei language film written, produced and directed by Dinesh Tongbram. It is the first production of United Films Manipur. The film features Amarjeet Rajkumar, Huirem Seema, Kaiku Rajkumar and Devita Urikhinbam in the lead roles. It was released at Usha Cinema, Paona Bazar on 10 September 2006.
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.
Paari is a 2000 Indian Meitei language film written by Aribam Gautam and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. The movie stars R.K. Surchandra in the lead role. This children film is produced by Children's Film Society, India. The movie participated at National Children's Film Festival (NCFF) 2010, Guwahati; 2nd Children's Film Festival and 4th Children's Film Festival 2013, Imphal. Paari was among the films screened at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2015 under the section A special retrospective on ace filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma.
Tales of Courage is a 1986 Manipuri documentary film directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. It is produced by Films Division of India. The film was screened at the 2nd Manipur International Documentary, Short and Animation Film Festival, 2010.
Sambal Wangma is a 1993 Indian Meitei language film directed by K. Ibohal Sharma and produced by Ph. Sobita Devi. The story of the film was written by Ph. Sobita Devi and screenplay by K. Ibohal Sharma. It stars Khun Joykumar, Parvati and Star Kamei in the lead roles. A. Bimola and Khun Joykumar are playback singers of the songs in the movie. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 41st National Film Awards. It was also selected for Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India 1994.
Meitei cinema, also known as Maniwood, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Meitei language, widely spoken in the state of Manipur. The popular term Maniwood, is a portmanteau of "Manipuri" and "Hollywood".