Kangabam Tomba (born 10 June 1946) is an Indian actor from Imphal, Manipur.[1][2] He started his career in theatre. His first appearance in movies is in Matamgi Manipur, the first Manipuri full-length feature film where he played a college guy. His is popularly known as Lamja Tomba for his title role in the 1974 movie Lamja Parshuram.[3] Tomba bagged the Best Actor Award at the 1st Manipur State Film Festival 1984 for the film.[4] He was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 11th Manipur State Film Awards 2018.[5][6]
Kangabam Tomba | |
|---|---|
 Kangabam Tomba (left) with Aribam Syam Sharma at IFFI 2007, Panaji, Goa | |
| Born | 10 June 1946 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Spouse | R.K. Bhanumati Devi |
| Parent(s) | Kangabam Yaima Singh Taibangjam Ningol Thouranijaobi Devi |
Tomba was awarded the Neta Irawat Leelaroi Lifetime Mana (Manipuri Cinema) at the 1st MANIFA 2012 organised by Sahitya Seva Samiti, Kakching.[7]
Early life and education edit
Kangabam Tomba is the youngest among his five siblings. He studied till VI standard in Kwakeithel Boys' School, Imphal. He completed his high school from Ram Lal Paul High School. He did his further studies from Imphal College.[citation needed]
Career edit
He first received the knowledge of theatre from his Manipuri teacher of Imphal College G.C. Tongbra, who was also a noted playwright.[8] Tomba joined Society Theatre in 1967. Some of the famous plays where he had acted include Ani Thokna Chingkhaire, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Mani Mamou and Ngabongkhao. Julius Caesar and Hamlet are Manipuri plays translated from their original versions of William Shakespeare by G.C. Tongbra.
He appeared as a college guy in Matamgi Manipur, the first Manipuri feature film in 1972. His first movie as a leading actor is Lamja Parshuram released in 1974, where he played the title role. The movie became a hit and since then, he is popularly known as Lamja Tomba. His 1979 movie Olangthagee Wangmadasoo ran for 32 weeks, the longest Manipuri movie to run in theatres till date and broke the local box office records of Sholay. In Paokhum Ama, he played a government employee from Imphal who is posted to a hill district of Manipur. He was the leading male protagonist in 1990 Aribam Syam Sharma's movie Ishanou, which was critically acclaimed worldwide and participated in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 1991.
He has also acted in digital films like Ashangba Nongjabi, Nangtana Helli, Amamba Lambee and Nongphadok Lakpa Atithi. Tomba is an approved radio artist of All India Radio, Imphal. Some of the well known radio plays where he was a part are Ashangba Nongjabi and Nongphadok Lakpada.
Filmography edit
| Year | Film | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Matamgi Manipur | Birjit | Debkumar Bose |
| 1974 | Lamja Parshuram | Parshuram | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1976 | Saaphabee | Loya Naha Saaphaba | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1979 | Olangthagee Wangmadasoo | Bijoy | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1983 | Paokhum Ama | Iboyaima | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1990 | Ishanou | Dhanabir | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1993 | Thambal | Ibohal | Kripa |
| 1998 | Meiree | Police Officer | L. Surjakanta |
| 2003 | Ashangba Nongjabi | Indu's uncle | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 2005 | Nangtana Helli | Suraj's father | Oken Amakcham |
| 2006 | Mikuptudagee | Purnima's father | Chou-En-Lai & O. Mangi |
| Mang-Ngal | Leina's father | Maya Choudhury & Vir Bhadra Yumnam | |
| Ngaihak Lambida | Stranger | Haobam Paban Kumar | |
| 2009 | Oja Sandhya | Sandhya's father | Oken Amakcham |
| Loisinkhidraba Wari | Oken Amakcham | ||
| 2010 | Amamba Lambee | Arun's father | Oken Amakcham |
| Piranglakta Manglan Ama | Maniyaima | Khangembam Kuleswar | |
| 2014 | Ayekpa Lai | Ngamba's father | Oken Amakcham |
| 2016 | Mashingkha | Chinglen's father | Jeetendra Ningomba |
| 2019 | Nongphadok Lakpa Atithi | Mamma | Aribam Syam Sharma |
References edit
- ^ "Kangabam Tomba on Moviebuff.com". Moviebuff.com.
- ^ "Kangabam Tomba". BFI. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018.
- ^ "Syam Sharma's Ishanou selected for IFFI '12 : 23rd nov12 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net.
- ^ "Veteran film artistes to be conferred awards on Irawat day celebration".
- ^ "11th Manipur State Film Awards 2018 : 10th dec18 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net.
- ^ "Film policy awaiting cabinet nod: Jayantakr". thepeopleschronicle.in.
- ^ "Nominees of Manipuri Film awards announced". e-pao.net. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "GC Tongbra birth centenary celebration begins : 07th feb13 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net.