IMPHAL, March 18: Manipuri feature film `Leipaklei` directed by acclaimed film maker Aribam Syam Sharma has been adjudged as the Best Manipuri film for the National Film awards announced today.
The film is based on the Sahitya Akademi Award winning drama of the same name written by Arambam Samarendra and tells the story of a woman- Leipaklei who is separated from her husband and whose life is surrounded by the hard trials of fate and burdened with sustaining herself and her little daughter.
The film starring Olen and Tonthoi who incidentally was awarded the National Award for Best supporting actress last year has been a regular at national, regional and international film festival circuits.
It may be mentioned that Aribam Syam Sharma made his directorial debut in Lamja Parshuram (1974).
His second Manipuri film Saphaabi (1979) received the national award in regional category in 1979 while his third film Olangthagi Wangmadasoo bagged the regional award in the National Film Awards in 1980.
Syam Sharma`s Imagi Ningthem in 1981 was the first Indian film to have won the top prize of `Grand Prix` in the Festival of Three Continents, Nantes in 1982.
His `Ishanou` (1990) was screened in the Un Regard Section of the Cannes International Film Festival in 1991. The national award for `Leipaklei` makes it the third such honour after `Ishanou` (1991) and Sanabi (1995).