Leipaklei
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Leipaklei Poster.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = Aribam Syam Sharma
| producer = Aribam Syam Sharma
| story = Arambam Samarendra
| screenplay = Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi
| starring = Leishangthem Tonthoi
Lairenjam Olen
| music = Aribam Uttam Sharma
Ibopishak
| cinematography = Irom Maipak
| editing = Oinam Gautam Singh
| studio = Aribam Syam Sharma Productions
| distributor = Doordarshan Kendra Imphal
| released = {{Film date|2012|12||Guwahati}}
| runtime = 75 minutes
| country = India
| language = Meiteilon (Manipuri)
}}
Leipaklei ({{Translation|i=yes|Indian crocus flower}}) is a 2012 Manipuri film directed and produced by Aribam Syam Sharma.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/the-quest-for-purity/article4223595.ece|title=The quest for purity|first=BUDHADITYA|last=BHATTACHARYA|work=The Hindu}} It stars Leishangthem Tonthoi in the title role. The story of the film was written by Arambam Samarendra and screenplay by Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi. Leipaklei was screened on the inaugural day of 5th Guwahati Film Festival 2012.{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Manipuri-film-Leipaklei-to-open-5th-Guwahati-festival/articleshow/17555878.cms|title=Manipuri film 'Leipaklei' to open 5th Guwahati festival|work=The Times of India}}{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121209/jsp/northeast/story_16291787.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212140/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121209/jsp/northeast/story_16291787.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|title=Film festival from tomorrow|work=The Telegraph}}{{cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.News_Links.News_Links_2012.Leipaklei_to_be_screened_on_inaugural_day_at_5th_Guwahati_Film_Festival_2012_20121209|title=Leipaklei to be screened on inaugural day at 5th Guwahati Film Festival 2012|website=e-pao.net|publisher=The Telegraph}} It was also screened at the 18th Kolkata International Film Festival and 14th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) held at Jeonju, South Korea.{{cite web|url=http://sevendiary.com/manipurs-leipaklei-invited-s-korean-film-festival/|title=Manipur's Leipaklei invited for S.Korean Film Festival|first=John|last=Hingkung|work=Sevendiary.com - Discover Northeast India - Culture, Lifestyle and Travel}}{{cite web|url=http://manipurtimes.com/leipaklei-blooms-at-korea/|title=Leipaklei blooms at Korea|work=Manipur Times|date=6 May 2013}} The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 60th National Film Awards.{{cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=1..190313.mar13|title=Aribam Syam's Leipaklei, Manipuri Pony win National Film Award : 19th mar13 ~ E-Pao! Headlines|publisher=}}
Synopsis
The film Leipaklei tells the story of Leipaklei, a woman named after a Manipuri flower. Like the flower whose habitat is the hard ground, she is surrounded by hard trials and ironies of fate: separation from the one who loved and is still loved by her, abandonment by her husband, the trials of being a single parent, the violence of the gaze of men who sees her as fair game.
Not unlike the flower Leipaklei, which hibernates beneath parched grounds – dreaming for a spring past, the protagonist dreams of the return of her beloved. He returns.
Cast
- Leishangthem Tonthoi as Leipaklei
- Lairenjam Olen as Ibotomba
- Gurumayum Kalpana as Tamurei
- Thingom Pritam as Thoiba
- Gurumayum Priyogopal as Khura
- Sundari as Mandon
- Baby Rainy as Meme
Accolades
Leipaklei won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 60th National Film Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/60th-national-film-awards-the-list-of-winners-597427.html|title=60th National Film Awards: The list of winners|website=www.news18.com}} The citation for the National Award reads, "A simple story told in a straight-forward simple narrative highlighting social reality".