01.10.2006
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Rediscovering Burma in Asian Festival, Mumbai
_ by Nava
Thakuria
Burma (now Myanmar) receives media headlines, elsewhere, for wrong reasons. So thus the Indian media, which on and off reports about the political turmoil in the country, presence of northeastern insurgents in their soil and the refugees coming out of the military ruled country. Being the proud habitants of the largest democracy in the world, the Indian civil society (also the media) in general supports the ongoing pro-democracy movement in the South East Asian country. But the government in New Delhi has been maintaining strategic relationship with the State Peace and Development Council, led by Senior General Than Shwe, which rules Myanmar.
For Indian media Burma is a land of atrocities, human right violation and of course under notorious press censorship. The media in the country is not allowed to cover the pro-democracy Burmese icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under detention for the last three years. Many news portal, which are traditionally critical to the military regime are banned in Myanmar. The local media (mostly in Burmese) are tightlipped while reporting the ongoing atrocities and human right violation by the regime on the common people throughout the state. The foreign correspondents based in Yangon (earlier Rangoon) are also kept under strict vigil by the authority. The only English daily of the country (The New Light of Myanmar) is run by the government and that is used as its mouthpiece.
With all negative aspects, a forthcoming film festival in Mumbai will provide the media in India a rare opportunity to understand Myanmar from different perspective. The Third Eye - 5th Asian Film Festival to be held in the commercial capital of India will showcase Burmese cinema in its 'Focus on One Country' section. The weeklong festival beginning on October 12 will screen Burmese movies namely 'San Yay', 'Chit Chin Nge Pyaing', 'Paysat Thudoh Nalongtha', 'Sat Hta Gan', 'Moe Kok Set Waing Ko Kyaw Lun Yewh', 'Kyan Sit Minn', 'Takhakah Irrawaddy Nyamya' and 'Mystery of Snow'.
"The focus on a country introduces contemporary cinema of an Asian nation. Eight Myanmarese films made during last six year have been selected for the section," informed Sudhir Nandgaonkar, the director of 5th Asian Film Festival, Mumbai. Organized by the Asian Film Foundation with the intention of propagating Asian culture within Asia and creating a greater understanding between Asian people about peace, harmony and development, the festival remains an annual feature since its inception in 2002. A 12-member delegation led by Kyi Soe Tun, president of Myanmar Film Producers' Organization will also grace the festival as special guests, added Mr Nandgaonkar.
Burmese cinema, which started its voyage with the first silent film, 'Myitta Nit Thuyar' (Love and liquor) in 1920, has an eventful film history. The first talkie film in Burmese film industry 'Ngwe Pay Lo Maya' (It can't be paid with money) was produced in 1932. The Burmese cinema primarily deals with the theme of love stories, legends and, of course, the Buddhist saga. The film industry, struggling against the Motion Picture & Video Censor Board under the military junta produces nearly 40 movies annually. During hey days, the number had risen up to around 80.
Joymoti Film Advert
Incidentally, a Burma related Asomiya film has also been invited for screening in the festival planned in the Bollywood city. A historic movie 'Joymoti, the saviour' that depicts the endless commitment of a princess to her community (Ahom), which migrated from south China through Burma centuries back will be screened in Indian Vista section of the festival. Produced under the banner of AAAS Production by an eminent Asomiya filmmaker, Manju Borah, the film portrays the sacrifice of a Ahom girl named Joymoti for the sack of her nation. "I have tried to present Joymoti as a historic figure with visionary personality in the film," said the acclaimed filmmaker Ms Borah.
A scene from Joymoti Film
The Ahom community, which migrated from Burma to present Asom in Twelfth century and ruled over the region for more than six centuries. The glorious age of Ahom was ended by the invasion of Burmese Army in Eighteenth century. Burma invaded Asom thrice in the early part of the 18th century. The last time the Burmese Army (known as Maan among Asomiya people) attacked Asom was in 1824. The atrocities committed by the Burmese military on the local people were, as history narrates, all time high. Finally the rulers of Assam turned for help from the British, who had already occupied the entire India. The British soldiers defeated the Burmese Army and the region went under the British colonial rule after signing of Yandabu Agreement in 1826.
The Mumbai festival will feature around 75 Asian films representing Iran, China, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Kazakstan, Russia, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore with India. The festival director Mr Nandgaonkar, while arguing that Asian cinema with its pioneering genius like Akira Kurosawa, Satyajit Ray with many others went on to create its own ethos in world cinema, the common viewers of the continent remained unaware of it. He also revealed that the kind of festival is aimed to make the local audience aware of the imagery of Asian cinema and also encourage the Asian filmmakers to create new works with its thorough identity.
Amidst criticism from international communities that New Delhi was supporting a stratocracy, India insists in maintaining a long-term relationship with Myanmar on bilateral trades with special emphasis on natural gas import for its energy security mission. Keeping an eye to the strategic relationship between India and Myanmar, where New Delhi is concerned with the political disturbances in its neighbouring country for some burning issues like cross-border terrorism (presence of northeastern militants on the soil of northern Myanmar), drug smuggling (from Golden Triangle to India) and the refugees from the country, the festival has been emerged as a rare opportunity for the audience with the media persons here to realize various issues related to the Golden Land, which is very near to India but too far in many senses.
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