Assamese cinema: Entwined in the reels
Assamese cinema that experienced its childhood with 'Joymati' has today stepped into the adult life having gone through its teenage and seen many ups and downs. From black and white to colour, Assamese cinema has come through all stages.
Way back in 1935, Rupkowar illuminated a new path in the realms of art and culture in Assam. Since then, the legend lives on and the legacy continues. Assamese cinema that experienced its childhood with ‘Joymati’ has today stepped into the adult life having gone through its teenage and seen many ups and downs. From black and white to colour, Assamese cinema has come through all stages. It has dealt with a varying range of themes and subject matter. A recent inclusion in the ignited minds that Assamese cinema has produced, M Maniram calls for a special ovation. With a Rajat Kamal in his booty, the class of his productions speaks for themselves. It was his Mon Jai, that had made him a hot favourite and much revered directors among the audience specially among the youth, a class of whom he has portrayed so intensely in the movie. With another production lining up from the treasures of this talented and enthusiastic director, team mélange tries to give our readers a peek into the life, works, likings and preferences of this young director who has so tenderly touched the chord of our heart.
M Maniram won the national award for his movie Mon Jai in 2009. His beginning was no less than any celluloid reel. After the class 10 exam he fled from home to avoid the worst if he could not come out successful. His destination was Nagaland where one of his relatives stays. But he could not find the man.
Fortunately, he knew the craft of tailoring and that came handy in the time of crisis. He worked in a tailoring shop in Nagaland for a few days. But his adventurous mind insisted him to seek for a new route, to do something fascinating. After a few days he prepared to leave for Delhi with a boy he met there.
Accordingly, they landed in Delhi and again tailoring craft worked in the rescue. They spent several days there and once again to do something different and fascinating captivated his mind. This time they headed for ‘dream’ city Mumbai (then it was Bombay). But he did not like city and returned back to Delhi. In the meantime he suffered from jaundice and was compelled to return back home.
Unexpectedly, he did well in the class 10 exam. At his arrival, an extremely happy father took him to the principal of the school from where he passed his higher secondary. From there on a new journey took off. Maniram kept on going to school but he was never too interested in text books rather cinema fascinated him more.
After completing his Higher Secondary exam, Maniram went to Kanoi College for the Bachelor Degree, taking English Literature as major subject. In the first year itself he was bestowed upon the responsibility to assist Pabitra Pegu in Migang, a missing video. Earlier during Higher Secondary days he tried to make a video movie Projonmo but due to lack of finance it remained incomplete.
In 1992, he arrived in Guwahati to edit his film Migang at Gokul Borkotoki’s video cast. His entire job was done there but he never returned back. He gradually met people like Gautam Bora, Pranjal Saikia of the film fraternity. Just after one year he got the opportunity to be the assistant director for the four episodes of Bedona Upose, a series, for Doordarshan. That was just the beginning later he directed few episodes himself. After a while he came across Abbas Ali who offered him to be the director for his Sur Sangam. Maniram is highly grateful to Abbas Ali as he says, “He has been guiding me throughout my life and is like my mentor”.
In 1999 he undertook another project Prosno, a short film. 75 per cent shooting was complete when financial crisis hit the project. Later when shooting was resumed after a year another hurdle came in the way forcing Maniram to abandon the film. The protagonist was a six-year old girl but she grew so fast during that year that she did not match the character.
“That’s why I am afraid to start the name of my films with the letter P,” laughed Maniram.
He was heart-broken. But the next time he bounced back even more strongly. He gave a dramatic look to his idea that haunted him during college days in Dibrugarh and the result is Mon Jai. And it gave him everything to be what he is today. It brought the National Award and several laurels for him as well as for the bed-ridden Assamese film industry.
But he is the same Maniram throughout the years. Talking of the movie, he said, “It was a joint effort that makes the movie successful. I’m always grateful to Jayanta Goswami and Sabita Chanam. They helped me to give my dreams a celluloid look.”
The film was screened in several places including Goa India Panorama, Tiscu Film Festival, Kerala and Indian Habitant Centre, New Delhi.
Recalling an incident of his childhood, the ever-smiling director said, “During school-days I was more interested in cinema and mimicked the actors. One day one of our neighbours saw me doing the same and told my mother that I should be taught cinema. My mother, being very innocent and simple, asked the man where to study cinema. The man replied in Pune. Mother asked ‘where is that Pune?’ He replied in Bombay. She again asked ‘where is it?’ The man laughed loudly at my mother’s ignorance. May be that incident made me tougher and determined to be what I am today.”
During early days he had grown up watching movies of Mani Ratnam and Mahesh Bhatt. He highly appreciates the works of Mani Ratnam. “Mani Ratnam can give the audience what they want without compromising with his ideas. His works are a treat to watch,” he said. “I also like Mahesh Bhatt and his way of working. In fact he is the man who inspired me to be a director,” Maniran said.
At present Maniram is busy with his next project You are not my Julie. The estimated budget of the movie is Rs 80 lakh. For the first time the movie will be released in two languages. Besides Assamese, viewers can also watch the movie in Bengali. Like Mon Jai, it is also very real and viewers can relate the story with themselves, according to the director.
Talking more on film-making the director said, making documentary is a more creative work. At the moment, though, he has no plan to make any. But he said, “I would like to make documentaries later on, it would take more time.”
The self-taught director urged the up-coming film-makers to concentrate on their work with sincerity and honesty. He also expressed grave concern at the poor plight of the Assamese film industry. According to Maniram, it is not just the responsibility of government but film-makers and general people too should share their part and work towards the developments.
With creativity at its helm and urge do something new, cinema has always produced great minds. M Maniram is an example of the creative urge that drives one to excellence. The Assamese film industry will continue to shine bright with a gem like Maniram to lend its ingenious sheen to the art of film making.
“First of all, to be a creative man you have to be a good human being. I think Maniram da posses that quality. Though no one is perfect, he tries to be the near perfect each time. His honesty, dedication and hard work get reflected in his work. Among the new generation he is one of the best. I hope very soon he will make a mark in the national scenario. I wish him very good luck.” --Pabitra Margherita, renowned figure of Assamese film industry
“Personally I feel he is a very simple man and a simple man can do creative and highly critical works. He has the potentiality to do even better. His Mon Jai is good movie and won National award. But still the movie failed to catch the critics’ eye.” --Altaf Mazid, National award winning film critic
“A hope for the next generation film makers. What he has done in Mon Jai is very impressive. Being a cool and calm customer he has the ability to continue the good work. He is working in his next movie. Let’s wait and watch how it fares.” ---Manju Bora, National award winning film maker
"Maniram as I know is a very serious person and creative. He takes things open-heartedly. It helps him to deal with the subjects. As a script writer, he goes in detail with the things. In Mon Jai, he deals a serious issue in a very subtle way. From a critic’s point of view, it seems that he depends too much on dialogues though he is well equipped with the grammar of film-making.”--- Manoj Barpojari, Journalist and internationally acclaimed film critic
“I know Maniram for the last one and half years and I found the boy is very serious towards his work. He has an urge to learn new things and he likes to experiment with ideas. Maniram speaks less but always wears a smile. His last movie Mon Jai
was well made but still could have been made a bit shorter. I wish him all the best for his forthcoming movie”. ---- Ranjit Das, National award winning director.
Fortunately, he knew the craft of tailoring and that came handy in the time of crisis. He worked in a tailoring shop in Nagaland for a few days. But his adventurous mind insisted him to seek for a new route, to do something fascinating. After a few days he prepared to leave for Delhi with a boy he met there.
Accordingly, they landed in Delhi and again tailoring craft worked in the rescue. They spent several days there and once again to do something different and fascinating captivated his mind. This time they headed for ‘dream’ city Mumbai (then it was Bombay). But he did not like city and returned back to Delhi. In the meantime he suffered from jaundice and was compelled to return back home.
Unexpectedly, he did well in the class 10 exam. At his arrival, an extremely happy father took him to the principal of the school from where he passed his higher secondary. From there on a new journey took off. Maniram kept on going to school but he was never too interested in text books rather cinema fascinated him more.
After completing his Higher Secondary exam, Maniram went to Kanoi College for the Bachelor Degree, taking English Literature as major subject. In the first year itself he was bestowed upon the responsibility to assist Pabitra Pegu in Migang, a missing video. Earlier during Higher Secondary days he tried to make a video movie Projonmo but due to lack of finance it remained incomplete.
In 1992, he arrived in Guwahati to edit his film Migang at Gokul Borkotoki’s video cast. His entire job was done there but he never returned back. He gradually met people like Gautam Bora, Pranjal Saikia of the film fraternity. Just after one year he got the opportunity to be the assistant director for the four episodes of Bedona Upose, a series, for Doordarshan. That was just the beginning later he directed few episodes himself. After a while he came across Abbas Ali who offered him to be the director for his Sur Sangam. Maniram is highly grateful to Abbas Ali as he says, “He has been guiding me throughout my life and is like my mentor”.
In 1999 he undertook another project Prosno, a short film. 75 per cent shooting was complete when financial crisis hit the project. Later when shooting was resumed after a year another hurdle came in the way forcing Maniram to abandon the film. The protagonist was a six-year old girl but she grew so fast during that year that she did not match the character.
“That’s why I am afraid to start the name of my films with the letter P,” laughed Maniram.
He was heart-broken. But the next time he bounced back even more strongly. He gave a dramatic look to his idea that haunted him during college days in Dibrugarh and the result is Mon Jai. And it gave him everything to be what he is today. It brought the National Award and several laurels for him as well as for the bed-ridden Assamese film industry.
But he is the same Maniram throughout the years. Talking of the movie, he said, “It was a joint effort that makes the movie successful. I’m always grateful to Jayanta Goswami and Sabita Chanam. They helped me to give my dreams a celluloid look.”
The film was screened in several places including Goa India Panorama, Tiscu Film Festival, Kerala and Indian Habitant Centre, New Delhi.
Recalling an incident of his childhood, the ever-smiling director said, “During school-days I was more interested in cinema and mimicked the actors. One day one of our neighbours saw me doing the same and told my mother that I should be taught cinema. My mother, being very innocent and simple, asked the man where to study cinema. The man replied in Pune. Mother asked ‘where is that Pune?’ He replied in Bombay. She again asked ‘where is it?’ The man laughed loudly at my mother’s ignorance. May be that incident made me tougher and determined to be what I am today.”
During early days he had grown up watching movies of Mani Ratnam and Mahesh Bhatt. He highly appreciates the works of Mani Ratnam. “Mani Ratnam can give the audience what they want without compromising with his ideas. His works are a treat to watch,” he said. “I also like Mahesh Bhatt and his way of working. In fact he is the man who inspired me to be a director,” Maniran said.
At present Maniram is busy with his next project You are not my Julie. The estimated budget of the movie is Rs 80 lakh. For the first time the movie will be released in two languages. Besides Assamese, viewers can also watch the movie in Bengali. Like Mon Jai, it is also very real and viewers can relate the story with themselves, according to the director.
Talking more on film-making the director said, making documentary is a more creative work. At the moment, though, he has no plan to make any. But he said, “I would like to make documentaries later on, it would take more time.”
The self-taught director urged the up-coming film-makers to concentrate on their work with sincerity and honesty. He also expressed grave concern at the poor plight of the Assamese film industry. According to Maniram, it is not just the responsibility of government but film-makers and general people too should share their part and work towards the developments.
With creativity at its helm and urge do something new, cinema has always produced great minds. M Maniram is an example of the creative urge that drives one to excellence. The Assamese film industry will continue to shine bright with a gem like Maniram to lend its ingenious sheen to the art of film making.
“First of all, to be a creative man you have to be a good human being. I think Maniram da posses that quality. Though no one is perfect, he tries to be the near perfect each time. His honesty, dedication and hard work get reflected in his work. Among the new generation he is one of the best. I hope very soon he will make a mark in the national scenario. I wish him very good luck.” --Pabitra Margherita, renowned figure of Assamese film industry
“Personally I feel he is a very simple man and a simple man can do creative and highly critical works. He has the potentiality to do even better. His Mon Jai is good movie and won National award. But still the movie failed to catch the critics’ eye.” --Altaf Mazid, National award winning film critic
“A hope for the next generation film makers. What he has done in Mon Jai is very impressive. Being a cool and calm customer he has the ability to continue the good work. He is working in his next movie. Let’s wait and watch how it fares.” ---Manju Bora, National award winning film maker
"Maniram as I know is a very serious person and creative. He takes things open-heartedly. It helps him to deal with the subjects. As a script writer, he goes in detail with the things. In Mon Jai, he deals a serious issue in a very subtle way. From a critic’s point of view, it seems that he depends too much on dialogues though he is well equipped with the grammar of film-making.”--- Manoj Barpojari, Journalist and internationally acclaimed film critic
“I know Maniram for the last one and half years and I found the boy is very serious towards his work. He has an urge to learn new things and he likes to experiment with ideas. Maniram speaks less but always wears a smile. His last movie Mon Jai
was well made but still could have been made a bit shorter. I wish him all the best for his forthcoming movie”. ---- Ranjit Das, National award winning director.
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