Kazakh glory for Haobam's film Mr India' K

IMPHAL: Veteran Manipuri filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar's award-winning documentary, Mr India', will be screened at the Asiada Film Festival, Kazakhstan beginning Tuesday. "I'm so happy with my film getting selected for the prestigious festival. I will go to Kazakhstan to attend the four-day festival," said Paban, a resident of Uripok.
The 47-minute documentary depicts the life and achievements of HIV-positive bodybuilder K Pradipkumar (41), who won the Mr Manipur title in 2007 and several other laurels in other competitions at national levels.And he achieved all this after battling social stigma and discrimination attached to the disease. Mr India had also won the prestigious Swarna Kamal Award in the 57th National Film Festival. Mr India was also screened at the Kos International Health Film Festival Ippokratis in Greece last year.
Paban said he had made the film "to salute the never say die sprit of Pradip", a resident of Khamnam Leirak in Imphal West. An alumni of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata, Paban said a feature film would be his next venture. "I have kept the story line of my next venture ready, but a refreshing thought is needed to make it more powerful. I am waiting for some fresh ideas," he said. A film on the controversial Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act (AFSPA-1958) by Paban was adjudged for the Swarna Kamal or the Golden Lotus in the Best Non-Feature Film Award category at the 56th National Film Awards in 2008. Other documentaries directed by Paban are Kangla' and A cry in the dark' won various international awards.