AFSPA, 1958 (film) explained

AFSPA, 1958 is a 2006 Manipuri documentary film directed by Haobam Paban Kumar in his directorial debut^{[1] [2]} and produced by Bachaspatimayum Sunzu and Haobam.^[3] The film won the National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film at the 56th National Film Awards.^[4]

Synopsis

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,^[5] 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^{[6] [7]}

Accolades

At the 10th Ismailia International Film Festival in Egypt, the film won three awards.^[8] It also received both the International Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize at the Mumbai International Film Festival.^[9] Additionally, it was honored with the Swarna Kamal at the National Film Awards and was selected for screening at MoMA in New York.^[10]

Reception

Richard Kupers of Variety (magazine) noted "Though flawed by conventional documentary standards, AFSPA, 1958 has an undeniable fury. incendiary footage, Haobam Paban Kumar’s 77-minute documentary could be trimmed to an hour for broadcasters."^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Man from Manipur . 1 August 2024 . www.deccanchronicle.com . 1 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240801083951/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/theatre/121216/the-man-from-manipur.html . live .
2. Web site: Shackleton . Liz . Busan: Haobam Paban Kumar talks 'Lady Of The Lake' . 2024-08-03 . Screen . en . 2024-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240804065727/https://www.screendaily.com/features/busan-haobam-paban-kumar-talks-lady-of-the-lake/5110265.article . live .
3. Web site: Kuipers . Richard . 2006-08-01 . Afspa, 1958 . 2024-08-01 . Variety . en-US . 2024-08-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240801082610/https://variety.com/2006/film/reviews/afspa-1958-1200514463/ . live .
4. News: 2010-03-19 . President confers 56th National Film Awards . 2024-08-01 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X . 2023-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230310133610/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/President-confers-56th-National-Film-Awards/article16577085.ece . live .
5. Web site: 2014-07-12 . Manorama rape and murder: 10 years on, family’s hope for justice fades . 2024-08-04 . The Indian Express . en . 2024-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240804065828/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/manorama-rape-and-murder-10-years-on-familys-hope-for-justice-fades/ . live .
6. Web site: Sirur . Simrin . 2021-07-22 . 17 years since their naked protest against Army, ‘Mothers of Manipur’ say fight not over yet . 2024-08-04 . ThePrint . en-US . 2024-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240804065901/https://theprint.in/india/17-years-since-their-naked-protest-against-army-mothers-of-manipur-say-fight-not-over-yet/700093/ . live .
7. Web site: The film stars . www.livemint.com . 2024-08-04 . 2024-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240804065934/https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/JDkSBK6gMzeLgYWGOVyPTJ/The-film-stars.html . live .
8. Web site: 'AFSPA 1958' continues bagging international awards . 2024-08-04 . One India . 2024-08-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240801083433/https://www.oneindia.com/2006/09/27/afspa-1958-continues-bagging-international-awards-1159349715.html . live .
9. Web site: A violent history of withered hopes - Ruptured Spring, documentary by Haobam Paban Kumar, portrays lives affected by strife . Telegraph India.
10. Web site: 2024-08-03 . TMC students' wing gheraos Calcutta University's vice-chancellor for over nine hours . 2024-08-04 . www.millenniumpost.in . en . 2024-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240804070134/https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/tmc-students-wing-gheraos-calcutta-universitys-vice-chancellor-for-over-nine-hours-574353 . live .
11. Web site: Kuipers . Richard . 2006-08-01 . Afspa, 1958 . 2024-08-01 . Variety . en-US . 2024-08-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240801082610/https://variety.com/2006/film/reviews/afspa-1958-1200514463/ . live .