'The Silent Poet' — Borun Thokchom's ode to Irom Sharmila

It took him four years to make a film that lasts only 17 minutes. But the effort was worth it for Borun Thokchom, a journalist and budding filmmaker from Manipur, who won the National Award for best debut director for his documentary, The Silent Poet, which highlights the poetic side of Manipur’s iron lady, Irom Sharmila Chanu.

The film shows footage of Sharmila’s life under custody — her scribing a notebook inside a highly-guarded hospital prison. The human rights activist has been charged with ‘attempt to commit suicide’ for her indefinite fast-unto-death demanding the repeal of controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

“A young lady is fasting for a cause, for all of us and for humanity. A lot has been written of her but I thought that wasn’t enough. So I decided to make a film on her highlighting the poetess that she is. As I’m a journalist, I had the advantage of meeting her very often,” Borun told DNA.

It is during these meetings that he discovered Sharmila’s poetic side. “I have known Sharmila for a long time. So one day, it suddenly struck me that I should make a film on her,” Borun said. He claims The Silent Poet is not a ‘propaganda film’. I did not make the film to support her cause. But in my opinion, AFSPA should be scrapped and Sharmila must be saved. She adopted non-violent means following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation. Why is the government not listening to her?” He added: “Sometimes I wonder how I will receive the award from the president who gives unbridled powers to the military to exercise AFSPA.”

Borun started working on the film in 2007 but it took him four years to get the footage. “It was a nonfiction film, so it took time to get completed. Also, as my focus was on the poetic side of Sharmila, I found it hard to get the footage I needed,” he said.

The 30-year-old filmmaker adds that he always wanted to capture Sharmila when she was alone. But whenever she was freed, large numbers of her supporters would crowd around her, making it difficult for him to get the footage. However, he still managed to capture some rare moments.

“There is no casting in the film. Sharmila is my only protagonist. All the shots are real,” Borun said. He didn’t look for a producer nor did he make the film for moneyBorun says. “I wanted to express my creativity. So, I used film as a medium.”

Borun graduated from the St Anthony’s College in Shillong in Mass Communication and Video Production. He says the college taught him the art of filmmaking.

So, has the award changed his life and did he expect to win it? “I guess not. I didn’t make it to win an award. My aim is to show the film wherever I can. I’m confident viewers will like it. I’m happy to have won the award and the recognition. I have worked on some other documentaries earlier, but yet haven’t complete them,” Borun says.