Kangabam Tomba

{{Infobox person

| name = Kangabam Tomba

| image = Kangabam Tomba at the presentation of the film on Nov.27,2007 at IFFI,Panaji, Goa (cropped).jpg

| caption = Kangabam Tomba at IFFI 2007, Panaji, Goa

| birth_name =

| education =

| occupation = Actor

| years active =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|06|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Hiyanglam, Manipur
Present address:
Kwakeithel Laishram Leikai, Imphal, Manipur

| parents = Kangabam Yaima Singh
Taibangjam Ningol Thouranijaobi Devi

| spouse = R.K. Bhanumati Devi

| children =

| nationality = Indian

| awards =

}}

Kangabam Tomba (born 10 June 1946) is an Indian actor from Imphal, Manipur.{{Cite web|url=https://www.moviebuff.com/kangabam-tomba|title=Kangabam Tomba on Moviebuff.com|website=Moviebuff.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bdae6389a|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120112123/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bdae6389a|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 January 2018|title=Kangabam Tomba|website=BFI}} He started his career in theatre. His first appearance in movies is in Matamgi Manipur, the first Manipuri full-length feature film where he played a college guy. His is popularly known as Lamja Tomba for his title role in the 1974 movie Lamja Parshuram.{{Cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=5..231112.nov12|title=Syam Sharma's Ishanou selected for IFFI '12 : 23rd nov12 ~ E-Pao! Headlines|website=e-pao.net}} Tomba bagged the Best Actor Award at the 1st Manipur State Film Festival 1984 for the film.{{Cite web|url=https://thefrontiermanipur.com/veteran-film-artistes-to-be-conferred-awards-on-irawat-day-celebration/|title=Veteran film artistes to be conferred awards on Irawat day celebration}} He was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 11th Manipur State Film Awards 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=18..101218.dec18|title=11th Manipur State Film Awards 2018 : 10th dec18 ~ E-Pao! Headlines|website=e-pao.net}}{{Cite web|url=http://thepeopleschronicle.in/daily/english/2564|title=Film policy awaiting cabinet nod: Jayantakr|website=thepeopleschronicle.in|access-date=8 May 2021|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423083451/http://thepeopleschronicle.in/daily/english/2564|url-status=dead}}

Tomba was awarded the Neta Irawat Leelaroi Lifetime Mana (Manipuri Cinema) at the 1st MANIFA 2012 organised by Sahitya Seva Samiti, Kakching.{{Cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=23..130912.sep12|title=Nominees of Manipuri Film awards announced|accessdate=10 July 2021|website=e-pao.net}}

Early life and education

Kangabam Tomba is the youngest among his five siblings. He studied till VI standard in Kwakeithel Boys' School, Imphal. He completed his high school from Ram Lal Paul High School. He did his further studies from Imphal College.{{fact|date=April 2023}}

Career

He first received the knowledge of theatre from his Manipuri teacher of Imphal College G.C. Tongbra, who was also a noted playwright.{{Cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=3..070213.feb13|title=GC Tongbra birth centenary celebration begins : 07th feb13 ~ E-Pao! Headlines|website=e-pao.net}} Tomba joined Society Theatre in 1967. Some of the famous plays where he had acted include Ani Thokna Chingkhaire, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Mani Mamou and Ngabongkhao. Julius Caesar and Hamlet are Manipuri plays translated from their original versions of William Shakespeare by G.C. Tongbra.

He appeared as a college guy in Matamgi Manipur, the first Manipuri feature film in 1972. His first movie as a leading actor is Lamja Parshuram released in 1974, where he played the title role. The movie became a hit and since then, he is popularly known as Lamja Tomba. His 1979 movie Olangthagee Wangmadasoo ran for 32 weeks, the longest Manipuri movie to run in theatres till date and broke the local box office records of Sholay. In Paokhum Ama, he played a government employee from Imphal who is posted to a hill district of Manipur. He was the leading male protagonist in 1990 Aribam Syam Sharma's movie Ishanou, which was critically acclaimed worldwide and participated in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 1991.

He has also acted in digital films like Ashangba Nongjabi, Nangtana Helli, Amamba Lambee and Nongphadok Lakpa Atithi. Tomba is an approved radio artist of All India Radio, Imphal. Some of the well known radio plays where he was a part are Ashangba Nongjabi and Nongphadok Lakpada.

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Film ! Role ! Director
1972 \|Matamgi Manipur \|Birjit \|Debkumar Bose
1974 \|Lamja Parshuram \|Parshuram \|Aribam Syam Sharma
1976 \|Saaphabee \|Loya Naha Saaphaba \|Aribam Syam Sharma
1979 \|Olangthagee Wangmadasoo \|Bijoy \|Aribam Syam Sharma
1983 \|Paokhum Ama \|Iboyaima \|Aribam Syam Sharma
1990 \|Ishanou \|Dhanabir \|Aribam Syam Sharma
1993 \|Thambal \|Ibohal \|Kripa
1998 \|Meiree \|Police Officer \|L. Surjakanta
2003 \|Ashangba Nongjabi \|Indu's uncle \|Aribam Syam Sharma
2004 \|Reporter \|Ibohal \|L. Surjakanta
rowspan="2"\|2005 \|Nangtana Helli \|Suraj's father \|Oken Amakcham
Mathang Mapokta \|Bijoy \|Diya Khwairakpam
rowspan="3"\|2006 \|Mikuptudagee \|Purnima's father \|Chou-En-Lai & O. Mangi
Mang-Ngal \|Leina's father \|Maya Choudhury & Vir Bhadra Yumnam
Ngaihak Lambida \|Stranger \|Haobam Paban Kumar
rowspan="2"\|2009 \|Oja Sandhya \|Sandhya's father \|Oken Amakcham
Loisinkhidraba Wari \| \|Oken Amakcham
rowspan="2"\|2010 \|Amamba Lambee \|Arun's father \|Oken Amakcham
Piranglakta Manglan Ama \|Maniyaima \|Khangembam Kuleswar
2014 \|Ayekpa Lai \|Ngamba's father \|Oken Amakcham
2016 \|Mashingkha \|Chinglen's father \|Jeetendra Ningomba
2019 \|Nongphadok Lakpa Atithi \|Mamma \|Aribam Syam Sharma

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Film

! Role

! Director

1972

|Matamgi Manipur

|Birjit

|Debkumar Bose

1974

|Lamja Parshuram

|Parshuram