Oken Amakcham

Oken Amakcham is an Indian film director,[1] music director and actor who works in Manipuri films.[2][3] He started his career in theatre and performing arts. He is a recipient of the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri for the movie Mayophygee Macha at the 42nd National Film Awards.[4] In 2002, he directed Lammei which marked the beginning of a digital era in Manipuri cinema.[5] He took the role of music director in many of his movies. Cheina, Tellanga Mamei, Nungshithel are some of his notable films. He had been a jury member of 58th National Film Awards.

In this Meitei name, the family name is Amakcham and the given name is Oken.
Oken Amakcham
Born(1962-03-01)1 March 1962
Kongba Kshetri Leikai, Imphal East, Manipur
NationalityIndian
EducationBachelor of Arts (B.A.), Dhanamanjuri College
Occupation(s)Director, Music Director, Actor
SpouseJenita Amakcham
Parent(s)Amakcham Shyamo
Amakcham Ongbi Brinda
AwardsNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri (1994)

His movie Nungshithel (English: Abode of Love) was aired on Doordarshan Kendra Imphal as a four-episode teleplay. It was adapted from Arambam Samarendra's theatrical play of the same tite.

Career

Amakcham embarked on a journey into the world of performing arts, right after his graduation in 1981 from Dhanamanjuri College, Imphal.[6] In 1981, he joined theatre and received guidance from renowned theatre personalities like G.C. Tongbra, Birjit Ngangomba, Kangabam Birbabu, Sanakhya Ibotombi and Heisnam Kanhailal. Driven by his passionate love for music, he admitted himself into the Government Music College, Manipur. In addition to this, he learned Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet from his gurus Laishram Ibopishak and Sanasam Ibopishak. He completed Visharad from Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapeeth, Lucknow.

His career in movies started with Sanakhya Ibotombi's 1986 film Iche Sakhi, where he got a chance to act in a role. Amakcham's first celluloid film as a director is Khonthang, a 1992 movie. Before this, he had directed video films Urit Naapangbee and Laidhi Lubaak, produced by Thoungamba and Thouyangba for P.K. Films. His movie Mayophygee Macha was released in 1994 and stars Makhonmani Mongsaba and R.S. Joycee in the lead roles.[7][8] He directed two more celluloid movies Aroiba Bidai and Cheina.[9][10] His 2002 directorial venture Lammei is the first Manipuri video film to have a commercial screening at a theatre.[11] It was shot by a digital camera. The movie also marked the beginning of a digital era in Manipuri cinema. Tellanga Mamei and Thajabagee Wangmada were among the movies screened at the First Festival of Manipuri Cinema 2007 organised by Film Forum Manipur. His association with Dashu Films are marked by films Cheina, Thajabagee Wangmada, Nangtana Helli and Tellanga Mamei.

He has given music direction for many of his feature films.[12] The non-feature films made by Amakcham were mostly biographical documentations of well-known theatre personalities like Heisnam Kanhailal and Ratan Thiyam. In 2019, he directed a non-feature film Raseswari Pala. As of 2021, his movie Lammei was among the feature films screened in the inaugural week of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Manipuri Cinema (1972-2022), organised from 9–18 April 2021 at MSFDS Imphal.

Accolades

Oken Amakcham's Khonthang was selected for Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), New Delhi in 1993. It was invited to Singapore International Film Festival 1994 and Festival of SPARROW, Mumbai, 2008. His 1994 movie Mayophygee Macha won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 42nd National Film Awards held in 1995.[6] It was scripted by M. K. Binodini Devi.

Amakcham's movie Aroiba Bidai was awarded the Best Feature Film award at the 4th Manipur State Film Awards 1999. His film Cheina won the Best Feature Film and Best Director awards at the 6th Manipur State Film Awards 2006. He won the Best Music Director award for his work in the movie Mamlasanu Taibangpal at the 11th Manipur State Film Awards 2018.[13]

Filmography

Feature films
YearTitle_____________Notes________________
1986Iche SakhiHis debut movie as an actor. Celluloid film.
1987Urit NaapangbeeProduced by Thoungamba & Thouyangba for P.K. Films. Video film.
1989Laidhi LubaakProduced by Thoungamba & Thouyangba for P.K. Films. Video film.
1992KhonthangSelected for Indian Panorama of IFFI, New Delhi, 1993. Invited to Singapore International Film Festival 1994 and Festival of SPARROW, Mumbai, 2008. Celluloid film.
1994Mayophygee MachaBest Feature Film in Manipuri at the 42nd National Film Awards. Celluloid film.
1998Ashiba Thawaigee MamiBased on the novel of the same name. It is a video film.
1999Aroiba BidaiCelluloid film. Best Feature Film at the 4th Manipur State Film Awards.
2000EchelsidaVideo film produced by Kangla Films Manipur.
2002LammeiFirst Manipuri video film to have a commercial screening at a theatre.
2003CheinaBest Feature Film and Best Director Awards at the 6th Manipur State Film Awards 2006. Celluloid film.
2004LuhonglabiA romantic movie produced by Kangla Films Manipur.
Thajabagee WangmadaScreened at the First Festival of Manipuri Cinema 2007.
2005Nangtana HelliA romance drama produced by Dashu Films.
2006Tellanga MameiScreened at the First Festival of Manipuri Cinema 2007.
2007Ayekpa KajalA romance drama. Binata portrayed double role in the movie.
2008MageedamakniA multi-starrer romance drama.
2009Loisinkhidraba WariA musical narrative presented by Falcon Films.
Oja SandhyaA romance drama.
2010Amamba LambeeAdapted from the play of the same title.
2014Ayekpa LaiA story of a woman painter.
2015Patkee TharoLead actress in the movie (Tonthoi) won the Best Actress Award at the PRAG Cine Awards 2016.[14]
2017Mamlasanu TaibangpalBest Music Director Award at the 11th Manipur State Film Awards 2018.
2018Hey IsheiA musical film.

Non-feature films

Oken Amakcham has directed non-feature films as well. His non-feature The Theatre Incarnate is a biographical film on Heisnam Kanhailal. In 2007, he made Ratan Thiyam: The Man of Theatre and was selected for Indian Panorama of International Film Festival of India (IFFI), 2008 and 11th Mumbai International Film Festival 2008.[15]

  • The Theatre Incarnate (2005)
  • Ratan Thiyam: The Man of Theatre (2007)
  • T. Nobokumar: The Man of Folk Theatre
  • Panthou
  • Tinthrok (2017)
  • Raseswari Pala (2019)

References
  1. "Oken Amakcham". www.myheritage.com. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  2. "15 day workshop on folk dance kicks off : 08th mar21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  3. "Oken Amakcham - Filmography". BFI. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  4. "59th National Film Awards 2011: Phijigee Mani bags best regional film award : 08th mar12 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  5. "50 years of Manipuri cinema: Award-winning films screened at Imphal". Northeast Now. 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  6. "Oken Amakcham: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday | eTimes". timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
  7. "Mayophy Gee Macha (1994)". Indiancine.ma.
  8. "MAYOPHYGEE MACHA (1994)". BFI.
  9. "Condolences pour in for veteran Manipuri Filmmaker Em Kay Jeet". thenortheasttoday.com. April 15, 2021.
  10. "Demise of filmmaker EM Kay Jeet 20210415". e-pao.net.
  11. "Celebrating Fifty Years of Manipuri Cinema". MyGov Blogs.
  12. "Oken Amakcham Songs". Hungama.com. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  13. "11th Manipur State Film Awards 2018 - 'Enakta Leiringei' bags 7 awards including award for best feature film". e-pao.net. 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  14. "Manipur's Tonthoi bags 'Best Actress' award at PRAG Cine 2018". thenortheasttoday.com. May 31, 2018.
  15. "Short film on Ratan Thiyam in Indian Panorama : 27th oct08 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". www.e-pao.net.
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