Best tag on film on Irom Sharmila
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 23 2011: A documentary film on Irom Sharmila Chanu christened "The Silent Poet" has been recommended for the best documentary award in the 2nd Siliguri International short and documentary film festival held on November 12 and 13 .

"I'm really happy with the great news.

The festival committee informed me today to receive the award on November 27 .

I'll go and receive it ," Thokchom Borun, director of the 15-minute film said today.

Demanding repeal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act that gives sweeping powers to the armed forces even to the extent to shoot a man on mere suspicion, Sharmila has been on a hunger fast since November 5, 2000 .

She embarked on her extraordinary mission a couple of days after Assam Rifles personnel mowed down ten civilians including a child bravery award winner at Malom.

Sharmila (39) is currently being forced fed nasally at the security ward of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences close to her Kongkham Leikai residence in Imphal East.

Borun said his film highlights the poetic side of the rights activist and of the many poems she has written one "O Stranger" mirrors the amalgamation of events happening in Manipur and the North East, he said.

"Since she has been detained at the hospital it was hard for me to get the film footages," the young director cum producer said.

"I have stressed on the poetic side of Sharmila because films dealing with her other aspects have been earlier.

I completed my film in August this year," he added.

"The Silent Poet" was among six different documentary films on Sharmila screened in the recently concluded five-day festival of Hope, Justice and Peace to commemorate the completion of her 11th year fast.

The other five films were 'SOS', 'While Gods Took to Dancing', 'Tales from the Margins' and 'Fast Unto Death' and 'Loneliness of an Activist".

'Mirel Mashingkha' (the will of soul), a forceful mime play on the same subject matter directed by Yumnam Sadananda was staged at the nine-day-long Chuncheon International Theatre Festival in South Korea last month.

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