Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Oken Amakcham, the veteran filmmaker, actor, and music director, died on July 19 following a long illness. He was 62. Born on March 1, 1962, in Kongba Kshetri Leikai, Imphal East, Amakcham launched his artistic career after graduating from Dhanamanjuri College in 1981. He honed his skills in theatre and earned a music Visharad from Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapeeth in Lucknow.
His screen career started as an actor in the 1986 film Iche Sakhi, directed by Sanakhya Ibotombi. He stepped into the director’s chair for his 1992 film Khonthang. That project reached the Indian Panorama at the 1993 International Film Festival of India in New Delhi before moving to international screens. He hit his stride in 1994. The film Mayophygee Macha, scripted by M. K. Binodini Devi, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 42nd National Film Awards.
Amakcham pushed boundaries. In 2002, he directed Lammei. It was the first Manipuri video film to hit commercial theatres, effectively sparking the regional digital film era. His other credits include Cheina, Tellanga Mamei, Nungshithel, Aroiba Bidai, and Thajabagee Wangmada. Beyond his own films, he directed documentaries on theatre figures Heisnam Kanhailal and Ratan Thiyam. He also served as a jury member for the 58th National Film Awards and Vice-Chairman of Film Forum Manipur.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh led the public mourning. He posted a message on X and labeled the director a "towering figure of Manipuri cinema whose contributions would remain an enduring legacy." On Sunday, the Manipur State Film Development Society held a floral tribute and candlelight memorial at its Palace Compound for the artist. Amakcham is survived by his wife, Jenita Amakcham, and his family.
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