Manipuri documentary film ‘Beyond Blast’ based on life of Konthoujam Maikel Meitei, a painter and a bomb blast victim who lost both legs in a bomb explosion, has been selected as part of the prestigious, Indian Panorama Official Selection.
“Beyond Blast” will be screened at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), slated to take place from November 20-28, 2022 in Goa.
The documentary film ‘has been selected among 20 non-feature films to be screened in the Indian Panorama section at the 53rd IFFI. Indian Panorama is a flagship component of the IFFI, said a press note by the Secretary, Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS).
According to reports out of 242 non-feature films competing for the national selection, 20 films only made it to the selections including two films from northeast India namely Saikhom Ratan’s ‘Beyond Blast’ (Manipur) and Kripal Kalita’s ‘Hatibondhu’ (Assam).
The 52-minute-and-10-second film ,“Beyond Blast” is directed by Saikhom Ratan alias Bungobi and produced by Konjenbam Shusila Leima. The film is based on the life of Konthoujam Maikel Meitei , an artist who lost both his legs in a bomb blast in Imphal .
In the year 2007 on December 16, a powerful IED explosion occurred at Pourabi, a countryside of Manipur, claiming seven lives and leaving almost 30 injured. The film,“Beyond Blast” portrays the sufferings of Maikel and how he wanted to spread the power of healing through his painting.
Director of ‘Beyond Blast’, Saikhom Ratan is an award winning freelance video journalist and a well-known Manipuri cinematographer and filmmaker .
Beyond blast has bagged several awards at different prestigious film festivals even before the Indian Panorama selection.
‘Beyond Blast’ has won ‘Best Documentary Film in Social Issues’ at the 14th Manipur State Film Awards 2022 organized by MSFDS; Official Selection at Sign International Film Festival Kerala, 2022; Official Selection at 13th Film South Asia (FSA), Nepal; Best Documentary (India) in Port Blair International Film Festival; Best Documentary (India) at Filmshor International film festival Kerala 2021 and Honourable Mention award in Reels International film festival 2021 Aurangabad.
