The Journey of Onaatah to Manipur

Akee Sorokhaibam *

The impression of Onaatah was there ever since I saw the trailer. Pradip Kurbah who directed the film is one of the good human being that I have ever met. I met him at Film, North East, Itanagar, 2016. I dint talk to him much in fact I came to know of him when he took back home four hornbill for best director, actor (female), editor and negative role. During the entire film festival I was not me.

Pradip Kurbah had won national award for Ri in Best Khasi Film category and yet again in recently announced 63rd National Award for Onaatah. I was one of the curators for the recently concluded Festival of Cinma, Manipur 2016. We invited 29 films all across the Northeast India except for Tripura. Next time we will do it more vastly and are planning to tour entire region to scout films.

During the entire scheduling I kept the closing film blank deliberately because I want Onaatah but then again was not sure if the film is finished or not. I was hesitating to ask the director of the film but somehow I asked Pradip Kurbah for the film. After some emailing and other formalities he agreed and I announce the closing film. For political reason I have to hide the other reason why I want Onaatah to be the closing film.

The starts of Festival of Cinma, Manipur 2016 did not go very well. We have names wrong on flight tickets, shed not built properly, sound people telling us at the end that they don't have 5.1 sound system & the projector keep shutting automatically and when it were inaugurating the generator failed. I almost cried a little but somehow it started working somehow. Until the end of the Festival we keep masking every single day.

It was the closing day and we have reputed filmmakers from the Manipur who has comes to see Onaatah. That day we again run into some problem but won't be again writing about it for political reason. There were fewer crowds because of the political reason still there were 15 of us who stayed till the end of the film and claps & whistle. Onaatah makes me happy after the exhausting numbers of day we went in bringing the 29 films to Manipur.

The film starts from the dark alley of shillong. The film shows how Onaatah were going thru the incident that happen which changes her. The treatment from the society was eating her up and her father suggested Onaatah to visit her uncle village. She agreed and left. Inside the bus, the conversation that Onaatah had with the fellow passenger actually shows the relation of City and Village. I really applaud Pradip Kurbah in putting that part very cleverly. Inside the bus we see Duh.

The introduction of all the character in the film is neatly done and you would never figure out what will be coming next.

Shot beautifully, we traveled to Onaatah uncle's village and during the entire sequence I felt like I was there. The shot were beautifully design that it really awestruck me and many of the audience who were there inside the screening shed.

Onaatah started living her life and she became part of the village and the journey of her transforming stays back even after end credits of the film.

The film has all the elements which touch the heart. The film has the element which will make you realized and question our own way of living. The film has the element of seeing the world different. The film tells us to smile as it is the only thing which makes us good.

The film is well crafted film with good cinematography, editing, music, color grading, sounds (though we saw it in crappy stereo mixer, the sound did come out well) and superb acting from everyone. Young filmmakers can learn a lot from the film as it has all the elements of Indie Cinema. One of the main Indie Cinema elements is having lots of producers and Onaatah producers credit list are just massive.

Joke apart, please go and watch Onaatah. Be a part of Khasi cinema journey & Northeast cinemas as whole and we at Festival of Cinma, Manipur & Kharam Loya Film Festival is proud to have Onaatah as Closing and Opening Film respectively.

Onaatah Manipur second screening is on 8th May at Kyamba Ningshing Shanglen, Bishnupur as the Opening film of Kharam Loya Film Festival - an initiative by Chingleipak Cine Club, Bishunupur. For more details find Kharam Loya Film Festival of Facebook.

Onaatah credits:

Lead
Sweety Pala
Merlvin Mukhim

Music
Anurag Sakia

Written by
Paulami Duttagupta

Director
Pradip Kurbah