Manipur Cinematographer Irom Maipak dies of COVID-19 at the Age of 52

Imphal: Irom Maipak, the acclaimed cinematographer of Manipur, passed away on Thursday at a hospital in Imphal Raj Medicity after battling COVID-19 at the age of 52. He was admitted to the hospital on May 4.

A resident of Sagolband Salam Leikai, he is survived by his wife, a son, and daughter.

In a spontaneous, virtual condolence assembly, members of MSFDS's Executive Board and the Celebration Committee of the Golden Jubilee of Manipuri Cinema expressed shock at the sudden passing of Maipak, who was also an important employee of MSFDS as a cameraman.

He was the only national award-winning cinematographer of Manipur, who was also the founder president of the All Manipur Cinematographers' Association.

As a cinematographer spanning over 30 years, he had worked with several renowned filmmakers of Manipur and bagged a number of awards. The biggest breakthrough of his career came when he won the national film award (Rajat Kamal) in Cinematography in 2002 for his work on 'The Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh.'

His death has left the film fraternity of Manipur in shock, which term it as a great loss not only for Manipur cinema and the state as a whole. The Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) organised a virtual condolence assembly for him.

Art & Culture Commission, M Joy Singh shared his profound sorrow and said the void created by Maipak's demise would be hard to fill up for MSFDS as well as for the entire film fraternity of Manipur. Director, Art & Culture Ng Uttam Singh, distinguished him as cinematographer par excellence.

MSFDS Secretary Sunzu Bachaspatimayum, who had worked with Maipak on 'Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh,' the ethnographic documentary for which Maipak has adjudged the Best Cinematographer (documentary) at the 49th National Film Awards, 2002 said that Maipak is known for his uncompromising framing even in difficult and uncontrolled situations.

Another acclaimed filmmaker, Haobam Paban Kumar, said that he has lost a good human being, an artiste and a friend. "Tamo Maipak was a born genius. Camera was in his blood. He had magic in his hands. He was a wonder in an uncontrollable situation," he added.

Maipak had the experience of working on a range of formats such as celluloid, video, and digital films. He mastered his skills from Ernest Gusella and Tomiyo Sasaki and filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma.

As per the sources, a two-minute silence was observed for the departed soul of Irom Maipak to rest in peace.

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