Leipaklei

Leipaklei
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Aribam Syam Sharma
Produced by	Aribam Syam Sharma
Written by	Arambam Samarendra
Screenplay by	Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi
Starring	Leishangthem Tonthoi Lairenjam Olen Kalpana Pritam Priyogopal Sundari Baby Rainy
Music by	Aribam Uttam Sharma Ibopishak
Cinematography	Irom Maipak
Edited by	O. Gautam
Production company	Aribam Syam Sharma Productions
Distributed by	Doordarshan Kendra Imphal
Release date	2012
Running time	75 minutes
Country	India
Language	Meitei

Leipaklei is a 2012 Manipur film directed and produced by Aribam Syam Sharma.^[1] It stars Leishangthem Tonthoi in the titular role, with Lairenjam Olen in the lead, with Kalpana, Pritam, Sundari, Priyogopal and Baby Rainy portraying supporting roles. The story of the film was written by Arambam Samarendra and screenplay by Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi. Leipaklei was screened on the inaugural day of 5th Guwahati Film Festival 2012.^[2][3][4] It was also screened at the 18th Kolkata International Film Festival and Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) held at Jeonju, South Korea.^[5][6] The film won the Best Manipuri Film Award in the 60th National Film Awards 2013.^[7]

Cast

• Leishangthem Tonthoi as Leipaklei
• Lairenjam Olen
• Kalpana
• Pritam
• Priyogopal
• Sundari
• Baby Rainy

Synopsis

The film Leipaklei tells the story of Leipaklei, a woman named after a Manipuri flower. Like the flower whose habitat is the hard ground, she is surrounded by hard trials and ironies of fate: separation from the one who loved and is still loved by her, abandonment by her husband, the trials of being a single parent, the violence of the gaze of men who sees her as fair game. Not unlike the flower Leipaklei, which hibernates beneath parched grounds – dreaming for a spring past, the protagonist dreams of the return of her beloved. He returns.

Director’s Statement

The Meitei society of the state of Manipur, nested in India’s north-east, is a small but culturally rich community. In this society, women enjoy an unparallel economic and social freedom. It is in such a setting that the protagonist, a woman abandoned by her husband, gets inspiration of her from her hope that her true love shall return some day. He returns materializing her hope but reality dawns a new set of dilemma. The film attempts a portrayal of the bitter-sweet moments in life of a woman.

References