PENA PHAMSHAK: LOCATING THE NARRATIVE FUNCTION OF FOLK MUSIC IN MANIPURI CINEMA

Abstract

Music has played a significant role in film narratives since cinema exhibition started in theatres. This paper explores the influence of traditional folk music, specifically Pena Phamshak, on the narrative and cultural history of Manipuri cinema. It highlights how traditional folk music of Manipur transcends its conventional role to become an integral storytelling device, enriching the cinematic experience by embedding cultural context and emotional depth to the film. Focusing on S.N. Chand’s film Brojendragee Luhongba (1973), the study examines how the incorporation of Pena music enhances the narrative and emphasizes the tension between tradition and modernity in the film. The film uses traditional folk music performance of Pena Phamshak not merely as background score but as a symbolic element that underscores cultural identity. This unique narrative performance has its historical significance and role in preserving Manipuri oral traditions, particularly the epic of Khamba-Thoibi. The film draws symbolic parallel between the film’s love story and that of the story narrated through the folk performance which illustrates the thematic resonance and cultural continuity that Pena music brings to Manipuri cinema. It also highlights the transformative power of traditional folk music, demonstrating how it serves as a vital tool for cultural preservation and storytelling in the context of Manipuri cinema.