We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Meena Devi Longjam a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Meena Devi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?

My heroes are people who are considered ordinary but comes from different walks of life , who influences and gives a lot of impetus and positive impact to the society. The ordinary but extraordinary humans who have selflessly work for the society uncaring for recognitions. But when I ponder about such wonderful subjects and their stories I always try to bring them to a platform so the world knows their worth and contribution. Be it the woman Autodriver who drives to earn a livelihood breaking all stereotypes or in a society that’s often riddled in conflict , or Achoubi a women in early 70s caring and nurturing ponies , which is dwindling fast with modernisation and disappearing spaces or my recent documentary on Andro dreams which is about a woman who fight Patriarchy , poverty to nurture more then 150 National and international girls footballers. All these true stories truly reflects the pulse of Manipur and it’s resilient people.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Dr Meena Longjam stands as a trailblazer in the world of independent filmmaking, emerging as the first woman filmmaker from Manipur to receive a National Award for her impactful debut documentary film “Autodriver”. Beyond her cinematic achievements, Dr. Longjam embraces the challenges of being a single mother, juggling the responsibilities of parenthood with her academic and professional pursuits. In 2015, She established Airameen Media, a platform dedicated to producing films that address social and gender issues and publishing books related to media and arts. Driven by a passion for storytelling, she uses her creative endeavours to shed light on the complexities of societal dynamics, particularly in conflict ridden region. “Autodriver “, Dr. Meena’s acclaimed documentary, delves into the life of a lady Autodriver navigating the challenges of Imphal, a city often marked by conflict. The film not only exposes the discrimation faced by the protagonist but also earned recognition at prestigious film festivals. Premiering at the signs film festival in Kerala in 2015, the documentary secured the Jury special award and also garnered special mention at woodpecker international film Festival. The film’s narrative, highlighting the resilience of Manipuri women in the face of adversity has been showcased in numerous national and international film festivals, solidifying Dr. Meena’s reputation as a storyteller with a social conscience. Continuing her commitment to empowering women through cinema, her short film “Echo” earned acclaim and an award at peace builders’ international film festival in October 2016. Dr. Meena’s recent feature length documentary “Andro Dreams” became the opening film for the non-feature section of International film festival of india l, IFFI 2023. Despite the demands of her roles as a mother, filmy and academia , Dr. Meena remains dedicated to her craft. She is actively developing projects that amplify the voices of women and contribute to broader discourse on gender equality. Dr. Meena Longjam’s journey exemplifies the power of storytelling to bring about social change. Through her films, she not only captures the nuances of life but also advocates for a more inclusive and equitable society. Her unique perspective and commitment to highlighting women’s stories make her a prominent figure in the realm of independent filmmaking.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

To be able to humane and resonates humanity and let people know that there will be no war in the whole world if we remember that we belong to each other .

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Filmmaker Meena Longjam’s ‘Andro Dreams’ breaks the mould of sports films, offering a nuanced perspective on a Manipur village, challenging societal norms through the lens of an all-girls football team. Sports films are generally sentimental, but evacuated of real sentiments, and tend to follow the clichéd template – familiar tales of the heroic underdog player, hard-charging coach or team of misfits that somehow becomes a winner.

However, Manipuri filmmaker Meena Longjam’s film “Andro Dreams” brings freshness to this genre. The movie transcends the football field and ventures into the heart of economic challenges, patriarchal systems, and societal norms, offering a nuanced perspective on the triumphs and tribulations faced by young female players and their anchor, the indomitable Laibi Phanjoubam, in a corner of Manipur.

This year, the Indian Panorama’s non-feature film section at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa opened with “Andro Dreams”, which challenges stereotypes and norms through the lens of an all-girls football club in Andro, a village nestled about 25km from Manipur’s capital city of Imphal.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayerameen?igsh=c2h5d2x5b2djdW0x&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-meena-she-her-longjam-5a080318?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Image Credits
Image credit : Dewi Natalia