Nobap

Nobap (film)
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Heisnam Tomba
Produced by	Suresh Hidang
Screenplay by	Y. Kumarjit
Story by	Suresh Hidang
Starring	Raju Nong Gokul Athokpam Abenao Elangbam Ranjana Shanti Sorojini Master Denil Master Chingkheinganba Master Santosh Master Oliver Chiru Master Russel Master Robinson Master Biken Master Chingkhei Dhonen Rennedy
Music by	O. Geet
Cinematography	Konjengbam Boong
Edited by	Hodam Tommy
Production company	The Second Millenium Mongoloids
Distributed by	The Second Millenium Mongoloids
Release date	2009
Running time	150 minutes
Country	India
Language	Meitei

Nobap (English: Pomelo) is a 2009 Manipuri film directed by Heisnam Tomba, written and produced by Suresh Hidang, and presented by Madhuri. It stars Raju Nong, Gokul Athokpam, Abenao Elangbam and Ranjana with master Denil, master Chingkheinganba, master Santosh, master Oliver Chiru, master Russel, master Robinson, master Biken and master Chingkhei in the lead, with Sorojini, Shanti and Dhonen portraying supporting roles. There is also special appearance of international footballer Renedy Singh in the film. O. Boby is the sound designer of the film. Bishe Moirangthem, Tomba Thangjam and Mangangsana composed the soundtrack and Suresh Hidang wrote the lyrics. The film was released in the year 2009.^[1]

Nobap won many awards at the 7th Manipuri Film Festival 2010,^[2] including best story, best screenplay writer, best cinematography, best audiography, best editing, best art direction, best male playback singer, special jury award and the best feature film award.^[3] The film was also screened at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi on 13 January 2011.^[4]

Cast

• Raju Nong as Thambou
• Gokul Athokpam as Thanou
• Abenao Elangbam as Thaja
• Ranjana as Thoibi
• Master Denil
• Master Chingkheinganba
• Master Santosh
• Master Oliver Chiru
• Master Russel
• Master Robinson
• Master Biken
• Master Chingkhei
• Sorojini
• Shanti
• Dhonen
• Renedy Singh (Special Appearance)

About

The story is set in a remote village of Manipur. The film is about eight kids who are really interested in playing football. The kids are from poor families and ends up playing pomelo since they can't afford to buy a real football. They save money bit by bit, and manage to buy a football with the help of Thambou (Raju Nong), driver of an old model jeep which shuttles between town areas and the village. Thambou, seeing the interest of the kids, help them in every possible way he can, to make their dreams come true. On one hand, the romance between Thambou and Thaja (Abenao Elangbam), and between Thanou (Gokul Athokpam) and Thoibi (Ranjana) provides the film a different taste. The film also shows the negligence of the government employees who are posted in remote villages of Manipur and child kidnapping for forced labour.

Production

This film is the second production of The Second Millennium Mongoloids after producing the blockbuster film Meera Memcha.

Reviews

R.K. Bidur wrote in e-pao.org, "Making an enterprising team with Suresh Hidang, producer-writer-lyricist, Y. Kumarjit, screen playwright, Hodam Tommy and K. Boong, cinematographer and editor, O.Geet, music director etc., he comes up with a non-conventional film-Nobap. The plight of rural folks and eight kids in desperate need of football, but unable to afford one, kicking Nobap instead-are all well expressed in a comprehensible visual language. The film is skilfully intercut with humorous romantic interludes-Thambou and Thaja; Thanou and Thoibi.

Nobap is not a story that somebody tells you just to make you feel sorry for the poor people, it has other meaning and a shot's meaning can go very far beyond the subject. The film would have been better if a few sequences, such as apparent abduction of Thambou and child kidnapping for forced labour had been trimmed. They are neither sensibly treated nor developed as meaningful sub-plot.

★★★ : One for story-screenplay, one for sincerity and realistic attempt at the film making, one for eight frolicsome kids." ^[5]

Soundtrack

Bishe Moirangthem, Tomba Thangjam and Mangangsana composed the soundtrack for the film and wrote the lyrics. The songs are titled Laklo Thadoi Laklo Thoinu, Houda Houjillu Thok a ba Ama Lakchani and Pallubana Thamoi Ama.

References