Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 13 2009:
A determination to reform the society has been the driving force behind this tribal digital film director to continue making films even though odds and hurdles are his constant companions.
The half century old Liangmai digital film director Dee Abonmai hailing from Lamlaba, a hamlet under Tamei sub-division of Tamenglong district, refuses to give up making films in spite of the hardship he faces is multiplying.
"Cinema is a vital medium that influences our society and I have taken up this profession armed with almost nothing because I want to eradicate social ailments through this medium," the 50 year-old Dee Abonmai said.
Strolling down to memory lane, the Liangmai film maker cited that on one ocassion he was watching a Hindi movie in 1974 when he realised the powerful effect of cinema.
"Though I did not understand a word of Hindi but I could grasp by then the theme of the particular cinema I was watching on that day and realised how effective a cinema could be", cited Dee Abonmai while taking with Newmai News Network.
"After that incident I thought of making dramas atleast since making a film was something impossible those days," added the tribal artist.The creativity of Dee Abonmai is immense and multi-faceted.
Besides being a small time film maker, he is a lyricist, a composer, a drama theme former, an actor and also a singer.
However, financial constraint has been serving as blessing disguise.
"Since I cannot afford to hire lyricists and composer, I do it myself for my films," laughed Dee Abonmai.
He also said that whenever he is unable to find a suitable actor to play certain parts in his films, he does the vacuum filling.
The Liangmai film maker rues that making a movie for a small audience like the Liangmai community spread over in pockets of Nagaland and Manipur, the loss is abvious.
However, Dee Abonmai heaps his appreciation on N.Awangbow, the present Tamei assembly constituency MLA for the financial assistance to certain extent.
Talking about his theme-style of making films, the Liangmai director said that he prefers doing things based on social set-up rather than on love-stories and mythology.
"Having have composed over 100 songs, I can see the change, the effect on the society.
My songs are never based on the Bible or romannce," revealed Dee Abonmai while adding, "My works attempt at peace and harmony and campaign against imorality
and corruption" .
After his hit films Rangkang (Money) and Wangsune Kariating (The Spring Season) another film christened Mikdui ( Tears) is just on the way to the market.
When asked the duration he normally takes to complete a film, Dee Abonmai said that on average in three months' time a film can be made.
On being asked to mention a memorable annecdote he had encountered during his venture in this profession, the Liangmai film maker cited that during the shooting of Wangsune Kariating in the year 2006, in one of the characters, a man whose son had been tested HIV/AIDS was asked to react with heavy heart filled with despair but every time the man began to act smile adorned in his face.
"We could not complete the scene on that day as the man whose character in the film was as such that he should reveal his forlorn state but whenever I said "action" he started laughing.
We have to wait for the next day to complete the scene," narrated Dee Abonmai.
Inspite of all these odds, Dee Abonmai said he has a long way to go.