First Tangkhul film after 10 yrs... Black Rose blooms on hills of Ukl

TONGOU (Ukhrul), Sep 14: After a gap of 10 years, a feature film in Tangkhul dialect titled Black Rose was released finally drawing a large crowd at the village community hall of Tongou located 51 kms from Imphal along Mahadeva-Tolloi Road in Ukhrul district yesterday.

Directed by MK Wungkathing, a private English school Principal by profession and an enthusiastic filmmaker whose works are already acknowledged by many Tangkhul movie buffs, Black Rose is said to be made in a record time of one month.

The fledging Tangkhul film making industry had a natural death some 10 years back after imposition of restriction on screening films at night time by various social organisations on the alleged ground that encouraging such nocturnal entertainment programmes were detrimental to the growth of moral character of the youth while screening of the films during day time was not so profitable.

However, when the influences of films in other languages started having a serious impact on Tangkhul culture, the public and social organisations of Tangkhul commu-nity felt the need to rekindle interest in film making in Tangkhul dialect and finally the ban was relaxed. Thus, the movement of film making in Tangkhul dialect picked once again on the picturesque tiny hamlet Tongou , considered as the ‘Hollywood of Ukhrul district’ under the craftsmanship of MK Wungkathing, who has already directed over 20 films before the ban.

Comprising cast and crew members mainly from among the villagers of Tongou, the new Tangkhul film which was formally released during a function yesterday was attended by president of Information Centre for Hill Areas of Manipur (ICHAM) N Rajendro and social worker Ng Phaningshang as chief guest and functional president respectively.

The main theme of the film running over 2 hours is based on the proverbial saying of ‘pride comes before a fall’ (Watonna Wanglaga Kwakna Phamdek-e in Manipuri or Kanana Chuka Hai Akha, Hangkhana Pamdekhaowa in Tangkhul dialect). The film also deals with the problem of drug abuse among the youth.

Interacting with The Sangai Express, MK Wungkathing said shooting of the film was done and completed within the month of June last.

Exhilarated by the response of the people to his first work after a decade, Wungkathing said that he now wants to make a Manipuri film which can reach out to a wider audience.

43-year of age now, Wungkathing’s foray into film making goes back to 1990 and since then he directed/produced over 20 films. Some of his films like ‘My last day at Ukhrul’, ‘Imphal Turel Mapanda’, Khipawui Khayon, etc, have won many awards including Best Jury Award, Best Story, Best Camera, Tangkhul’s Best film nomination. After 1996, Wungkathing completed dissociated himself from film making until the Black Rose comes his way. 26-year old Ng Horthingchong Nulong, who is being cast as a supporting actor in the film, said that although it was her first film, she would like to act in a Manipuri film in future. Speaking at the occasion of releasing the film, Rajendra stated that if Tangkhul films could reach out to more audience, it would help in better understanding of each other’s culture, language and tradition among the people of State.

Source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/

UPA sends MPs on ‘thanksgiving’ trip to US

38-member delegation leaves with almost no official agenda

NEW DELHI, September 13 (DNA INDIA): It is thanksgiving either way. Thanksgiving to the US for the nuclear deal and to our own lawmakers, some of whom bailed the UPA out at the trust vote. A 38-member delegation comprising three ministers, 16 MPs and their relatives is headed for a weeklong sojourn to the United States to thank the Bush establishment for its stand on the 123 agreement. There is almost no official programme barring a meeting with secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, but that too is iffy.Many of the independent MPs in the delegation, particularly those hailing from the North-East and Ladakh, had voted for the government during the July 22 vote of confidence. According to officials of the parliamentary affairs ministry, the ‘Goodwill Visit’ has been planned to provide the legislators with an opportunity to thank the US government for its stand on the nuclear agreement and discuss bilateral relations. Obviously, the expression of gratitude comes at a heavy cost to the exchequer. Business class travel and the stay at plush five-star hotels say it all - the one-way business class fare in Air India is Rs1.80 lakh.

On his part, parliamentary affairs minister Vayalar Ravi denied that the US visit was to thank the MPs who had sided with the UPA during the trust vote. “This tour was due last year. But it was cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances,” he clarified.

Abdul Rashid Shaheen of the National Conference, which voted for the UPA, denied that the visit has anything to do with the vote of confidence. “This holds significance in the face of growing Indo-US cooperation in various fields. We will meet the Congressmen connected with South Asia and acquaint them with the ground realities,” he said. The ministry sources said the names were included on the MPs’ own insistence. They had complained about being ignored by the government in the matter of foreign tours, the sources added. BJP MP and former union minister Santosh Gangwar, who is travelling with his wife Saubhagyawati, is part of the team — giving the team a more balanced composition.

Vayalar Ravi, who is leading the delegation, would be accompanied by his daughter Lakshmi Ravi, nephew Kuruvila Joseph and private secretary ZA Naqvi. Two ministers of state Surya Kanta Patil (NCP) and Pawan Bansal (Congress) would be accompanied by son-in-law Amitabh Dayal and son Amit, respectively. The other MPs in the delegation are Thuptstan Chhewang (independent from Ladakh), W Wangyuh Konyak (Nagaland Peoples Front), Mohan Singh (Samajwadi Party), S K Bwiswmuthiary (independent from Assam),Vanlalzawma (Mizo National Front), Nakul Das Rai (Sikkim Democratic Front), Mani Charenamei (independent from Manipur), DV Rao (Congress), Braj Kishore Tripathy (BJD), Chandrakant Khaire (Shiv Sena), Amir Ali Jinnah Sulaiman, (Rajya Sabha-DMK), Ram Chandra Paswan (Lok Jan Shakti Party) and Sita Ram Singh (RJD). The delegation, which took off on Friday night, will be in New York from September 13 to 15 and will put up in the multi-starred luxurious Waldrof Astoria hotel. Subsequently, it will be in Washington DC from September 16 to 17 and in Los Angles from September 19 to 20 before returning home. The only listed programme for the MPs is a meeting with US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and speaker of the US house of representatives Nancy Pelosi. The two US leaders are still to confirm appointments, the ministry sources said.

Source: http://www.morungexpress.com/national/3671.html