Romi Meitei wins Best Director at Kazan International Muslim Film Festival for ‘Eikhoigi Yum’

Newmai News Network

Imphal: Adding another feather to his cap, celebrated Manipuri filmmaker Mayanglambam Romi Meitei has bagged the best director award for his debut non-commercial film “Eikhoigi Yum” (Our Home) at the “19th Kazan International Muslim Film Festival” in Kazan, a Russian city.

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Last month, he won the best feature film in Manipuri in the language specified in Schedule VIII of the (Indian) Constitution category for the same flick at the 69th National Films Awards 2021, a DIPR report said.

A whopping 127 feature films from across the world vied for various award categories during the five-day-long Kazan international Film Festival that culminated on Saturday. Despite bagging the famed award, Meitei didn’t express his fullest elation, considering the unceasing ethnic conflict besieging Manipur, the report also said.

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“I would be happier winning this award had there been no conflict in Manipur. The ongoing clash has rendered thousands homeless, and in this situation bagging award seems meaningless,” he said while praying for the restoration of peace and normalcy in the state.

Some of the Russian audience, who are aware of the Manipur conflict, even said they would pray for normalcy to return to the state very soon, said Romi, a resident of Kongba in the Imphal East district.

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The 89-minute Eikhoigi Yum revolves in and around Loktak, the biggest freshwater lake in the northeast India region. With the fishing community facing eviction notice from the government, the film is a narrative on the impact of globalization on a small remote village which causes the residents to move away in an attempt to eke out a livelihood, the report added.

Meanwhile, Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) secretary Sunzu Bachaspatimayum said, “Despite the turmoil swirling in Manipur, Manipuri cinema continues to make its mark with Shri Romi Meitei’s Eikhoigi Yum”. Among other hordes of honours, Romi’s Eikhoigi Yum also won the best feature film award at the 14th Manipur International Film Festival held in Imphal in 2022, he said. “A big congratulations to Shri Romi and Eikhoigi Yum cast and crew. Shri Romi Meitei has made Manipur proud again by winning the Best Director’s award,” added Sunzu.

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