IMPHAL, April 7 - Manipur�s popular filmmaker and Director Haobam Paban Kumar�s 72-minute film �Loktak Lairembee� (Lady of the Lake) has bagged the award for Best Film on Environment Conservation/ Preservation at the 64th National Film Awards 2016 announced on Friday.
The award, which carries a citation, Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,50,000, would be presented by President of India in New Delhi on May 3 next. About the film, Paban Kumar stated, �Loktak Lake is a unique ecosystem where fishermen lived in huts built on floating biomasses. In 2011, the authorities, in the name of protecting serenity of the ecosystem, burnt down the huts leaving thousands of fishermen homeless.�
Tomba, one of the victims, lives with a harrowing nightmare of looming displacement. He is haunted by fear of further intervention by authorities that would make him homeless forever. Confined in his makeshift hut, Tomba senses the spirit of evil around, while his wife Thambalsang works hard to make their living.
In the India Premiere at the 18th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016, the film got the top prize � Golden Gateway award. Besides being screened at 67th Berlin International Film Festival 2017, the film travelled around the globe and took part in many major international film festivals.
