Time to play ball

In a country that is obsessed with cricket and possibly football, how surprised were you to find that baseball, a sport India has little or zero connection with, is what Manipur is indulging in?
I was of course surprised, and delighted. Something so unlikely is cause for celebration if you are a filmmaker. Part of the story told in the documentary is tracing back the mystery of why and how baseball came to this ancient, isolated realm in the northeast. When I discovered solid evidence in the form of two American WWII vets who both played baseball in the region while serving, I was overjoyed.  And to top it off two elderly Manipuris shared their recollections of US and British forces stationed in Imphal at the time. It was full circle for baseball between Manipur and the US. Then I found amazing archival footage, some of it shot in 1944 on the airstrip at Imphal — where one vet recalled playing pickup games on the tarmac between flights to supply the Allies in China wearing combat boots and undershorts, using a sand filled flight glove for a ball! 

Why do you think baseball became so popular in Manipur? Even though the state is known for its cultural and sports initiatives, one doesn’t find baseball so passionately being followed anywhere else in the country?
Not clear why The Great American Game is so disproportionately embraced by Manipuris.  There are no doubt many reasons, but one seems to be that it provides joy, purpose, and a healing team spirit in this troubled region. Another (reason) that Manipuris have spoken of to me is that they view baseball as a ‘pure’ game, untainted by the corruption of cricket as reported in scandals here. A third is that baseball re-asserts Manipuris’ uniqueness and sense of identity as multi-gifted natural athletes. And they would love to be able to earn a living as pro players or coaches. 

During the shoot, tell us about your interaction with the locals? Foreigners are rarely welcomed into Manipur? Was it hard to find resources and assistance? Could you reach out to those you needed to work with?
I had total connection with at least seven or eight of our players and Manipur coaches — of both genders and all ages. And we got support from everyone who was part of the baseball effort. This project and the film made us most welcome. People bravely and generously made themselves fully open, candid and available. I worked freely in all allowed areas with my Manpuri crew, and never had any difficulties except in the time it took to clear visas from the US for each trip – as Manipur was under the Restricted Area permit rule then. 

Tell us about the film the way you had envisioned it. Has it turned out the way you wanted?
I didn’t know what to expect going in. Of course I expected it to be about sharing a beloved game, but had no idea of the many layers that I’d find in this story. I’m very happy with the film at this end of the experience.

One of the wonderful surprises was the strong, even dominant, role women and girls play in Manipuri baseball, and in so many aspects of cultural and political life there. This is a strong theme in the film. Our Academy Award winning narrator, Melissa Leo, also loved this aspect of the film and we have included a special trailer on our website in which she comments on this with scenes from the film. We screened the film for everyone in Manipur five days ago and they loved it. They were proud, thrilled to have Manipur and their lives brought into the light for people around the world. I can’t tell you how much this meant to me.

The fortunes of baseball ebb and flow in Manipur, and we hope the film will now kick-start a strong and permanent drive to support the game and those who play it.