Sanabi (English: The Grey Mare) is a 1995 Manipuri film written by M. K. Binodini Devi and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma.[1][2][3] The movie stars Haorongbam Deben and R.K. Sushila in the lead roles.[4][5] It was jointly produced by Doordarshan and National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).[6] The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 43rd National Film Awards.[7][8] Sanabi got selection at the International Film Festival of India, 1996 and Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt, 1996.[9][10][11]
| Sanabi | |
|---|---|
 Official Poster | |
| Directed by | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| Written by | M. K. Binodini Devi |
| Produced by | Doordarshan National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) |
| Starring | Haorongbam Deben R.K. Sushila |
| Cinematography | Sunny Joseph |
| Edited by | Ujjal Nandy |
| Music by | Aribam Syam Sharma |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Doordarshan |
Release date |
|
Running time | 88 minutes (Original) 67 minutes (Director's cut) |
| Country | India |
| Language | Meiteilon (Manipuri) |
Sanabi in its original form was written as a short story by M. K. Binodini Devi under the title Sagol Sanabi.[12] It was later made into a radio play named as Shriban Chinggi Tamnalai.
Plot
editMangi, irritated by his childhood friend Sakhi’s refusal to marry him, steals her beloved grey mare in order to force her to agree.
Cast
edit- Haorongbam Deben as Mangi
- R.K. Sushila as Sakhi
- Takhellambam Nabakumar as Birchandra, Sakhi's father
- Heisnam Ongbi Indu as Sakhi's mother
- Thokchom Ongbi Jamini
- Lourembam Pishak as Mangi's grandmother
- Gurumayum Tomba
- Y. Kumarjit
- Lala
- Wangkhem Lalitkumar (Cameo appearance)
Reception
editReviewing the film at the International Film Festival of India, S. R. Ashok Kumar of The Hindu wrote that "This 87 minute film is neither gripping nor enjoyable. The story has many loose ends."[13]
Deborah Young of Variety wrote that "Simple as the story is, there is nothing expected about the way Sharma shoots it."[14]
Accolades
editSanabi won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 43rd National Film Awards. The citation for the National Award reads, "For its apt and poetic handling of the conflict between the traditional and modern values, knitted around a pony symbolically".
References
edit- ^ S Balakrishnan. "A tryst with Manipuri movie Sanabi in Madras". e-pao.org.
- ^ "Sanabi - Manipuri Movie :: eRang Classic". www.e-pao.net.
- ^ Laithangbam, Iboyaima; Kongbam, Meghachandra (8 February 2019). "Indigenous people will become strangers in their own lands: Aribam Syam Sharma" – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ "Manipuri Cinema : Multiple Facets". communicationtoday.net.
- ^ Irom, Bit. "Manipuri Cinema In The Last Three Decades". e-pao.net.
- ^ "Official Poster of 'Sanabi' - Aribam Syam Sharma Archives". archive.org.
- ^ "Golden Jubilee celebration of Manipuri cinema from December 11". The Sangai Express.
- ^ The Sangai Express / Manipur Info Centre (7 March 2012). "59th National Film Awards 2011: Phijigee Mani bags best regional film award". e-pao.net. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "The North-East Enthrals". Outlook India Magazine.
- ^ Bit Irom. "Manipuri cinema in the last three decades". e-pao.net.
- ^ Rajkumar Sanatomba Singh. "50 years of Manipuri Cinema 1972-2022". www.esamskriti.com.
- ^ "Sagol Sanabi (Aribam Syam Sharma) – Info View – Indiancine.ma". indiancine.ma.
- ^ Kumar, S. R. Ashok (12 January 1996). "The cream of Indian cinema". The Hindu. p. 73. Archived from the original on 21 December 1996.
- ^ "The Gray Mare on Variety - Film Reviews". Variety. Retrieved 18 June 2021.