AFSPA, 1958
This documentary covers civil disobedience in Manipur against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958. It highlights the protests that followed the 2004 murder of Thangjam Manorama, where residents protested the broad powers given to security forces under AFSPA. One famous photograph from this time shows 30 middle-aged women marching naked through Imphal, the state capital, to the Assam Rifles headquarters.
Fireflies
In 1980s, when Manipur was inflicted with insurgency and armed violence, a group of women came out to the streets to uphold peace in the valley. Meira Paibis are loosely structured groups of women from each locality who volunteered to vigil through the night as a peace-building effort. ‘Fireflies’ takes us through the journey of these women in their struggles to protect their community from atrocities committed by the State. It explores the role of women in the conflict-ridden, male-dominated society of Manipur. Through powerful testimonies, this film looks into how gender identities are negotiated during the time of conflict and violence.
Imphal Bazaar
A scenes from a tour of Manipur State and a women's bazaar in Imphal.
Trip to Manipur
Amateur film of a road trip through northeastern India, showing traditional dances and a gigantic flower float.
Bloody Phanek
Bloody Phanek is a documentary film on phanek, an exclusive cloth similar to a sarong, which is worn by Manipuri women in northeastern India bordering Burma. The film blends the personal and the political. It starts from a personal impression that began from the earliest memories of the filmmaker's life. Bloody Phanek aims to discover how women use Phanek as a medium of protest while it explores the concept of impurity and how this attire challenges masculinity.