103.211.55.153 at 14:14, 10 September 2021

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{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}
{{use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Imagi Ningthem (My Son, My Precious)
| image = File:Imagi_Ningthem_Movie_Poster.jpg
| caption = Movie Poster
| director = [[Aribam Syam Sharma]]
| producer = K. Ibohal Sharma
| writer =
| screenplay = [[M. K. Binodini Devi]]
| story = [[M. K. Binodini Devi]]
| starring = Ingudam Mangi Master Leikhendra [[Kshetrimayum Rashi]]
| music = Khun Joykumar
| cinematography = K. Ibohal Sharma
| editing = Madhusudan Banerjee
| distributor = X-Cine
| released = 4 May 1981
| runtime = 110 minutes
| country = India
| language = [[Meitei language|Manipuri]]
| budget =
| italic_title = Imagi Ningthem (My Son, My Precious)
}}
'''''Imagi Ningthem''''' (English: ''My Son, My Precious'') is a 1981 [[Manipuri film]] directed by [[Aribam Syam Sharma]] and written by [[M. K. Binodini Devi]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-03-09|title=Binodini’s Women: The three strong characters of My Son, My Precious.|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/gender/binodinis-women-the-three-strong-characters-of-my-son-my-precious-5091936/|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/rising-against-all-odds/article22827431.ece | title= Rising against all odds | first=Parthajith | last=Baruah | date=23 February 2018 | newspaper=The Hindu | accessdate=17 October 2019 }}</ref> It won the ''Golden Montgolfiere'' at the [[Three Continents Festival|Festival des 3 Continents]], [[Nantes]] in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=16..150114.jan14|title=Digitised Imagi Ningthem screened at Pune film fest|website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.moviebuff.com/imagi-ningthem|title=Imagi Ningthem on Moviebuff|website=www.moviebuff.com}}</ref> The film was also screened at many International Film Festivals,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/21/movies/an-indian-import-my-son-my-precious.html|title=An Indian import: My Son, My Precious|newspaper=New York Times}}</ref> which include [[Denver Film Festival|Denver International Film Festival]], [[BFI London Film Festival|London Film Festival]], [[Locarno Festival|Locarno International Film Festival]], [[Montreal World Film Festival|Montreal International Film Festival]] and [[International Film Festival of India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=reviews.movies.Evolving_digital_film_culture_in_Manipur_A_misnomer_By_Meghachandra_Kongbam|title=Evolving digital film culture in Manipur: A misnomer By Meghachandra Kongbam|website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7b4488b3|title=Imagi Ningthem on BFI|website=www.bfi.org.uk}}</ref> The film won two awards at the [[29th National Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Shumang_Lila.Radio_Drama_In_Manipur_Part_2_By_Sagolsem_Indrakumar|title=Shumang Lila, Radio Drama In Manipur Part 2 By Sagolsem Indrakumar|website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/digitally-restored-imaji-ningthem-screened-118022200263_1.html|title=Digitally restored Imagi Ningthem screened|website=www.business-standard.com}}</ref>

''Imagi Ningthem'' was released at Usha Cinema, Paona Bazar on 4 May 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/northeast-must-stand-together-against-citizenship-act-manipuri-filmmaker-aribam-syam-sharma-6167342/|title=Northeast must stand together against Citizenship Act: Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma|newspaper=Indian Express}}</ref> It is adapted from the radio play of the same title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.mygov.in/celebrating-fifty-years-of-manipuri-cinema/|title=Celebrating fifty years of Manipuri Cinema|website=blog.mygov.in}}</ref>

==Plot==
The film opens with ''Dhani'' travelling to her new place of posting. Dhani is welcomed by ''Gandhar'' at the location, where he takes her around the school and introduces the students. ''Thoithoi'', a student at the school and his ''Pupu'' (grandfather) comes to Dhani to ask her if she can tutor Thoithoi since he is weak in academics as he could not attend school regularly. Dhani agrees to tutoring him. Over the course of time, Dhani starts feeling sympathy for Thoithoi and starts inquiring about his parents to Gandhar's wife. From her, she comes to know that Pupu is Thoithoi's maternal grandfather.

Gandhar tells Dhani that Thoithoi's grandfather was working as an attendant in the Inspection Bungalow. He had a daughter ''Memtombi'', who was free-spirited. An officer who was posted at the place and lived at the bungalow, seduced Memtombi, but soon got transferred. When Memtombi's father learned about his daughter's pregnancy, he went to tell the officer about it but the officer didn't come. Instead, he sent a man for Memtombi, to whom she refused. Memtombi died while giving birth to Thoithoi. After learning about the story, Dhani is disturbed and asks Gandhar about the officer. She comes to know that he is Dinachandra from Elang Leikai, who happens to be her cousin Ekashini's husband. She goes to meet him. But at the time, Dinachandra was out of station for a training programme, and also for meeting his son who was studying in Delhi. So, Dhani tells Ekashini about what all happened, to which Ekashini initially denies and refuses to believe.

Ekashini goes to meet Thoithoi but isn't able to meet him as he is not at home at that time. Pishak tells Thoithoi that his mother came to meet him. During the second time, he meets Ekashini, where he thinks that she is his mother. She brings clothes and snacks for him. After a brief meeting, when Ekashini is about to leave, Thoithoi asks her not to leave and starts crying. Ekashini leaves but feels the pain of separation with Thoithoi, who addresses her as ''mother''. The next day, Thoithoi waits for her mother by the roadside. Soon, Thoithoi falls ill. Ekashini comes to visit him. She takes Thoithoi to her residence and also consults a doctor. ''Pupu'' doesn't want his grandson to be kept there. Dhani asks Ekashini to send Thoithoi back, but instead tells her to admit Thoithoi to a nearby school. Ekashini looks after Thoithoi with utmost care and the mother-son relationship grows really strong.

Meanwhile, Dinachandra returns home and starts inquiring Ekashini about Thoithoi. Ekashini does not disclose the story but only tells him that she adopted him just because she likes him and there won't be any problem with it afterwards. When she tells Dinachandra that the child is from the village where Dhani is posted, her husband insists that he will call Dhani to send the child back. Ekashini plans to make Thoithoi play the role of '' Lord Krishna'' for a ''Raas Leela'' performance, so she takes Thoithoi to a nearby Hindu temple for learning the dance regularly. During one of these days, ''Pupu'' comes to take Thoithoi where he meets Dinachandra. Pupu clarifies to him that he has no intention of making his grandson get adopted by a person who doesn't even want to adopt his own child and that, he himself is enough for Thoithoi. Dinachandra goes to call Ekashini and Thoithoi. ''Pupu'' tells Ekashini that he is taking Thoithoi back, to which Ekashini expresses her anger towards her husband for allowing it. She refuses and takes Thoithoi back to the Hindu temple. The grandfather, on seeing the mother-son bond, cries and leaves. The film ends with Ekashini correcting a step of the Thoithoi's Krishna dance, showing her love for ''her son, her precious''.

== Cast ==
* Ingudam Mangi as Pupu, Thoithoi's grandfather
* ''Master'' Leikhendra Taorem as Thoithoi
* Thokchom Ongbi Jamini as Dhani, Ekashini's cousin
* [[Kshetrimayum Rashi]] as Ekashini
* Huirem Manglem as Gandhar
* Aribam Gayatri as Pishak
* Sagolsem Indrakumar as Dinachandra, Ekashini's husband
* Bhubaneshwari as Memtombi

==Accolades==
''Imagi Ningthem'' won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri]] and Best Child Artist Award (''Leikhendra Singh'') at the [[29th National Film Awards]]. The citation for the National Award reads, "''For its charm, simplicity and freshness of approach.''" Best Child Artist Award's citation reads, "''For an endearing portrayal of a child and his yearning for a mother's love.''"

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Award
!Category
!Winner's name
!Result
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[29th National Film Awards]]
| Best Feature Film in Manipuri
| '''Producer:''' K. Ibohal Sharma '''Director:''' [[Aribam Syam Sharma]]
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Child Artist
| Leikhendra Singh
| {{won}}
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=0285614|section=|0285614|Imagi Ningthem}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ishanou}}
[[Category:1981 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Aribam Syam Sharma]]
[[Category:Meitei-language films]]

Imagi Ningthem - Revision history

103.211.55.153 at 14:14, 10 September 2021