Auto Driver (2015 film)

Auto Driver is a 2015 Manipuri documentary film directed by Meena Longjam. It tells the story of Laibi Oinam ^[1] who took to driving a second-hand auto rickshaw in 2011, in a non-traditional profession for women in the Imphal city of Manipur, in order to support her ailing husband and sons' education. Produced over three years, it won the best social issue film in the non-feature category at the 63rd National Film Awards in 2015 and Best Short Documentary in the Audience Choice category at the 2017 Women's Voices Now Film Festival.^[2][3]

Meena Longjam receiving the National Award from the President of India for the film

Auto Driver
Directed by	Meena Longjam
Starring	Laibi Oinam
Release date	2015 (2015) (63rd National Film Awards)
Running time	30 minutes

Synopsis

Laibi is a lady auto driver based in conflict torn Imphal city. In order to support an ailing husband and education of her two sons, she took up this profession defying a traditional society. Starting off as a daily wage labor in a brick farm where she earns only 60 rupees for loading 1000 bricks, she has to face the discrimination of passengers who shun lady auto drivers.

Cast

• Laibi Oinam

References

1. "Meet Manipur's First Woman Auto Driver, Whose Grit Inspired an Award-Winning Documentary". The Better India. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
2. "Manipuri woman auto driver's life is now a film". assamtribune.com. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
3. "Manipur film Autodriver wins best short documentary award in California". thenewsmill.com. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2019.