IFFI 2023: An all-woman village football club scores against stereotypes & orthodoxy

Manipuri documentary 'Andro Dreams' by Meena Longjam opens the non-feature film section of Indian Panorama at the International Film Festival of India, Goa beginning on November 20.

Set in a picturesque valley of lakes and thatched roofs, the Andro village's claim to fame so far has been a local brew made from an indigenous rice variety in its homes. An all-woman football club is all set to wrest the tag of popularity simply on a style based on respect.

The AMMA FC in Andro, which is situated 25 km from Manipur's capital Imphal, is winning the approval of people with a formula suited for both sports and society in the north-eastern state reeling from ethnic violence.

"Play respectfully, then only you will become famous," says Laibi Devi, the 70-year-old founder of AMMA FC, nudging her players in the direction of fair play and goodwill. "Even when opponents attack you, don't scream or fight."

Laibi Devi, the 70-year-old founder of AMMA FC, an all-woman football club in Andro village near Manipur's capital Imphal.

Laibi Devi's spirit of simplicity and dignity may not be an ideal catchword in a football club's rule book, but in a village where orthodoxy and patriarchy sets the rules of everyday life, it is attracting a lot of attention.

It certainly did for Manipuri filmmaker Meena Longjam, who has followed Laibi Devi and her football players in the past six years to understand the club and its founder's philosophy of respect and fair play.

Andro Dreams, Longjam's feature length documentary on AMMA FC that wrapped up production early this year, will open the non-feature film section of the Indian Panorama at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa which begins on November 20.

"When I met this tiny woman, I couldn't believe she was the president of a football club," says Longjam about Laibi Devi, a retired primary school teacher who lives with her younger sister in Andro. "Her life and mission tells an inspiring story."

Respect and goodwill is the philosophy of the women's football club that is heralding social change.

The 93-minute documentary focuses on the efforts of a septuagenarian woman to unite a band of girls around a football club in a village that produces the state's popular Andro brand of liquor, thereby ushering in a wave of change in education, sports and culture.

Founded in 1999, AMMA FC — AMMA stands for Andro Mahila Mandal Association — has helped several young women unleash their talent to become professional footballers. The club also supports them in fighting poverty and the bane of early marriages prevalent in the village.

"When I met Laibi Devi for the first time in her village, she was busy cleaning the club's hall," says Longjam, who won a National Film Award in 2015 for her first documentary, Auto Driver, based on Oinam Laibi Devi, Manipur first female autorickshaw driver who broke into a profession of men. "Laibi Devi is the first matriculate in her village and uses education as a tool to emancipate the society," adds the director.

The AMMA FC is run on money raised by women led by Laibi Devi from weaving and sericulture. "Most of the players come from poor families and they can't afford to buy jerseys and boots," says the club's president, who was introduced to football as a young girl by her father. "I was always sick as a child and used to watch matches with my father," she says.

Football was forbidden for girls in Andro earlier, but today parents support their children in pursuing their dreams. Laibi Devi makes sure Manipur's famous women achievers, who are increasingly visible on the global stage of sports, visit the club to motivate her players.

"My family couldn't afford the football jersey I needed, but the coaches saw the dedication I had for the game," says Indian national women's team member Bala Devi to AMMA FC players on a visit to Andro filmed by Longjam. "Work hard and believe in yourself," adds Bala Devi.

The club negotiates a difficult terrain of economic challenges, stereotypes and patriarchy in the village. While coaches recruited by the club train the girls in football, Laibi Devi makes sure they also learn skills like weaving and computers.

"Andro is a small village with a population of 3,000," says Longjam, who teaches cultural studies at the Manipur University of Culture in Imphal. "The people here believe in traditional practices and also in superstition. It was also an insurgency-prone area before," she adds.

National Award-winning Manipuri filmmaker Meena Longjam, the director of 'Andro Dreams'.

Laibi Devi's approach of dialogue and patience while dealing with parents in sending their children to play football has helped her overcome many challenges. Girls starting families early in their teens, a usual practice in the village, means AMMA FC often loses its young talents depleting the club's strength.

"In Andro, once married means 'finished'. No more education or sports for girls," laments Laibi Devi, who talks with parents of new bridegrooms for days to help the girls return to training even after marriage.

Laibi Devi's persuasive skills and long experience as a social worker are helping her club and the village tide over challenges. "Don't just think of winning a game, show your best as a player in the field," she tells the young footballers in a message that could bring the much-needed change to a divided society in Manipur.

Developed at the Documenter Imphal, a mentorship lab of DocedgeKolkata, a documentary resource initiative, and Manipur State Film Development Society last year, Andro Dreams is produced by Longjam and executive produced by Dubai-based producer Jani Viswanath.