As yet Manipuri Cinema lost another precious member of its fraternity to Covid. This time is the 71-year-old, film producer, Dr. Thiyam Suresh Singh, a resident of Keishamthong, Laisom Leirak, Imphal West. He tested positive on 20 May and was being treated at the Babina Speciality hospital at Sajiwa, Imphal East, and succumbed on 23^rd May.

With him, the fatality count of the film fraternity has gone up to five (5). National Award winning cinematographer-Irom Maipak, cinematographer-editor-Hem Athokpam, Actor-Sagolsem Romio Meitei, and Producer-director and Lyricist- Em Kay Jeet being the other four who passed away between the month of April-May, during the ongoing covid pandemic.

In a virtual condolence meeting, members of the MSFDS’ Executive Board as well as the Celebration Committee of the Golden Jubilee of Manipuri Cinema, jointly expressed sorrow at the passing of yet another film personality due to covid.

As a tradition, the gathering appealed to the film community of the State to light a candle in honour of the deceased film producer at 6:00 pm on 24th May 2020. The main candlelight ceremony would be held at the Monolith of Manipuri Cinema, erected at MSFDS complex, Palace Gate. Those who wish to join at the main venue are most welcome. The gathering also said candlelight tradition at the Manipuri Cinema Monolith would be held to honour every deceased member of the film community on the day of demise or the next day, whichever is possible.

Sunzu Bachaspatimayum, Secretary MSFDS while sharing grief said Dr. Thiyam Suresh Singh, whom he knew personally was also a (former) director of Health Services, Government of Manipur. “He loved Manipur and never missed an opportunity to voiced his concern for the State, be it in taking the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Manipur to court over the issue of the unfulfillment of the commitment enshrined in the Merger Agreement for the then princely state of Manipur or on the territorial integrity of Manipur on which he wrote extensively in the media. Even on the ongoing pandemic which claimed his life, Dr. Suresh voiced his concerns on how the State was handling the pandemic since it broke out in March 2020. He was particularly critical of the concept of home quarantine and advocated aggressive test to break the curve of infection,” MSFDS Secretary recalled the about the demised film producer who produced two (2) socially relevant Manipuri feature films, “Eigi Punshi Mangla Taibungla” and “Chingda Satpi Engellei” in 2006 and 2019 respectively. Significantly, both his films dealt with issues of discrimination and inter-community marriage in the deep, fractured multi-ethnic society of Manipur.

Filmmaker, Oken Amakcham said Dr. Suresh took to film production to propagate social change. “He was an intellectuality vigorous person. Realizing the power of cinema, he stepped into producing films to tell stories of universal love and compassion to overcome perceived ethnic-based discrimination in the “identity-politics” marred society of Manipur,” said the acclaimed filmmaker, an executive Board member of MSFDS and programming chairman of the Golden Jubilee. 

Kh. Biswamitra, director of “Eigi Punshi Mangla Taibungla”, while sharing his anguish over the demised of Dr. Suresh Singh, recalled the doctor as a far-sighted personality who wanted to propagate love and understanding between the hills and valley brethren of the State through his cinema.  He said “Eigi Punshi Mangla Taibungla” was a story of the doctor who fell in love with a tribal girl during his posting at Tengnoupal and has an illicit son. The film ends with the doctor being re-posted at Imphal and the illicit relations ending on separation.

Reflecting on his serious outlook towards cinema and its development, filmmaker, Laimayum Surjakanta Sharma said Dr. Suresh instituted an award for the Best Film Journalist for the state of Manipur, carrying a cash award Rs. 10,000/-. “Consequently, after the release of his first film production, “Eigi Punshi Mangla Taibungla” in 2006, Dr. Suresh, persuaded Film Forum Manipur, the apex Film body of the state to annually given out the award by carrying necessary formalities. This was tremendous. He wanted Manipuri cinema to grow and wanted film journalists to contribute in it,” said Surjakanta Sharma.

Bobby Haobam, director of Dr. Suresh’s second production, “Chingda Satpi Engellei” released in 2019, said the film is a sequel to the first production. In the second part which he directed, Bobby said the doctor’s Meitei wife after coming to know about her husband’s illicit relation and son leaves him. The doctor lives a lonely life with his disoriented son. The doctor struggles to have good, father-son relations. Eventually, the tribal lady dies due to a stomach ailment and the illicit tribal son ends up living with the doctor and becomes a catalyst in mending the doctor’s broken home. Bobby recalls Dr. Suresh as a committed film producer who knows what he wants.

“Pabung Suresh was a fantastic person to work with. He was always clear of what he wants. In 2020, after the release of Chingda Satpi Engellei, Pabung confided to me that his plan is to make at least one film a year. He committed to me that he wants to make another feature with me,” said filmmaker Bobby.

On behalf of the film fraternity, MSFDS offers the deepest condolence and shares the grief of the bereaved family.