Animator Meren wins National Film Award

Dimapur | September 4   : For someone so highly versed in the unpredictable skills of digging up noisy guffaws and a smile or two from people, Meren Imchen was for once left speechless, when he landed the 2007 Goa Peacock Award for his animation-short film ‘Nokpokliba’.  
Now the motion animator will need an even considerably longer span of time to start speaking coherently. The President of India has awarded Meren Sungjem Imchen with the National Film Award for Best Animation Film at a function held on September 2 in New Delhi.
The alumnus of National Institute of Designing of Ahmedabad has landed the National Film Award for the Ao folk tale adaptation in the 54th National Film Award edition, non-feature film category. Produced by Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI), the eight-and-a-half minutes short animated film is an adaptation of an Ao folk tale.
The National Film Award comes right up on the heels of two other major film awards in the last two years: Meren won the Governor’s Award in 2006 and the Goa Peacock Award in 2007 for the same film.
Three years ago, in one this daily’s earliest news features, The Morung Express had featured the animator as a rising Naga star in the world of motion visuals. He was then engaged in commercial animations with a number of commercial video production houses. Today, Meren has truly gone through the roof with the painfully sweet and adorable ‘Nokpokliba’, winning the national film award in its genre.
Directed and animated by Meren, ‘Nokpokliba’ is overwhelming to the senses. With its staggering lyrical colors and impulsive yet dulcet flourish of imagination, it surely is a genre-defining work of motion arts finding unbridled, animated “cartoon” realism. The emotive ambition of the central “cartoon” pure-Naga characters, the fantastic rural Nagaland scene-scapes and of course, the tickle-your-liver-dizzy, heavily-accented-down-to-the-‘nu’ Ao dialogue will have even the sternest Drill Sergeant busting his lungs out across the solar system.

Ao folk tale Animation does a hat-trick
Following his National Film Award, Meren interacted Thursday with The Morung Express. The animator confided to have made a choice long ago that the realm of creative visual arts shall be his life’s engagement. “I made it (animation/motion visual art) a conscious choice to be my career” Meren said from Delhi. He has been freelancing for some time. Now, with his latest career high, Meren said more ventures would be had sooner. He said to be exploring fresher concepts for his next creation. The man did not disclose the needful details as yet. However, he informed, one aspect of his works shall remain an inspiration: the nuances of his people and land – the Nagas. The animator confided that his ventures will remain culture-based. Another animation venture is on-way. This time around, it is “self-sponsored” with a couple of friends chipping in their minds, Meren said.
So when are you getting home, Nagaland? “I really want to do a workshop, seminar in this field of specialization, in Nagaland” he said. Friends and well-wishers have been enthusiastic to this idea of devising a discourse on animation in the north-east. The plans are yet to be, but, Meren said, this is one aspiration he has kept well. Reflecting poignantly on Nagaland, Meren wants to return and “work only for Nagaland”.
Alluding to the situation of Nagaland today, Meren said there is too much of violence. He said right and just philosophy is the need of the hour. So how has his creations reflected the conflict that the Nagas are going through? Meren said his works are within the purpose to instill a “feel-good factor” rather than highlighting the pain of the ages.
Meren had engaged more in commercial animation. The genre, he said earlier, is an opportunity for him to portray Naga culture, its endearing folklores in its entire rich and vibrant colors.
To youths aspiring for a niche in highly demanding visual arts, Meren Imchen has these words: “don’t let your situation override your dreams; focus on your heart”. “Nagas youths are one of the most creative” he adds. Here’s to the man.