Imphal: The announcement of the winners of the 69th National Film Awards for the film produced and censored in 2021 that was made on Thursday brought jubilant in the moody skies of Manipur, scarred by the ongoing sectarian violence.
As expected, Romi Meitei’s critically acclaimed “Eikhoigee Yum” bagged the prestigious best Manipuri Film Awards in the feature film category and Saikhom Ratan’s Indian Panorama film, “Beyond Blast” was adjudged the Best Biographical film in the non-feature category.
‘Eikhoigi Yum’ is a narrative on the impact of globalization on a tiny remote village on Loktak, the largest freshwater lake in northeast India. The fishing community who lives on the lake faces eviction, turning their lives upside down. “Beyond Blast” is a 52-minute-long biographical documentary on the life of Konthoujam Maikel Meitei, an artist who lost both his legs in a bomb blast in Imphal.
Meanwhile, the Manipur State Film Development Society congratulated both these award-winning filmmakers and applauded their magnificent contribution to the glory of Manipur Cinema.