Cinema of Manipur
Indian filmmaking in Manipur
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cinema of Manipur is the film industry based in Manipur, India. It includes not only Meitei language movies but also productions in the various languages spoken by Manipur's different communities. The Manipuri film industry was born with the release of Matamgi Manipur by Debkumar Bose on 9 April 1972.[1] From Aribam Syam Sharma's Imagi Ningthem and Ishanou,[2] Oken Amakcham's Lammei,[3] Haobam Paban Kumar's Loktak Lairembee,[4] to Priyakanta Laishram's Oneness,[5][6] and Lakshmipriya Devi's Boong,[7] Manipuri cinema has evolved in terms of both form and cultural expression.[8]
Prior to Matamgi Manipur, several attempts were made to produce films in the state, the most significant being Mainu Pemcha in 1948, which was left incomplete.[9] Aribam Syam Sharma's Ishanou, screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, was the only Indian film to be considered under the Cannes Classic section at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.[10] In 2002, the Revolutionary People's Front banned Hindi-language films from being shown in the state,[11] leading to increased interest in Manipuri-language cinema and decreased attendance in local theatres.[12] In 2026, the film Boong became the first Indian film to receive a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award, representing a development for Manipuri cinema in an international context.[13]
Notable feature films: 1972-2022
This section covers notable Manipuri feature films released between 9 April 1972 and 9 April 2022. Notable films, in this context, include those films which have participated or won awards in national and international film festivals, and the films which have made history (for example, first full-length film, first filmmaker, first color film, longest movie).
| Year of release | Film | Notes | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Matamgi Manipur | The first Manipuri feature film.
Won Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 20th National Film Awards.[14] |
Debkumar Bose |
| 1973 | Brojendragee Luhongba | Manipuri movie made by the first filmmaker of Manipur Sapam Nodia Chand.[15] | S.N. Chand |
| 1976 | Saaphabee | The first Manipuri folk movie.
Won Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 24th National Film Awards.[16] |
Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1980 | Olangthagee Wangmadasoo | Won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 27th National Film Awards.[16] | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1981 | Imagi Ningthem | Won the Golden Montgolfiere at the Festival des 3 Continents, Nantes, in 1982, becoming the first Indian film to win a grand prix award.
Won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist (Master Leikhendra) and National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 29th National Film Awards.[16] |
Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1983 | Sanakeithel | Won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 31st National Film Awards. | M. A. Singh |
| Paokhum Ama | The first Manipuri colour (short) feature film (runtime: 54 minutes). Screened at the Tyneside International Film Festival, U.K. | Aribam Syam Sharma | |
| 1984 | Langlen Thadoi | The first Manipuri colour full-length feature film. First film to be produced by a woman, Kh. Sakhi Devi. | M. A. Singh |
| 1986 | Nonglei | The first VHS feature film in the Meiteilon language. | Ramchandra |
| 1990 | Ishanou | Screened at the Un Certain Regard section of the 1991 Cannes International Film Festival.
Won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri and Special Mention (Anoubam Kiranmala) Award at the 38th National Film Awards. The restored version was selected for world premiere at the prestigious Cannes Classic section of the Cannes Film Festival 2023. [17] |
Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1992 | Khonthang | Selected for Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India, New Delhi, in 1993.
Invited to Singapore International Film Festival 1994 and Festival of SPARROW, Mumbai, 2008. |
Oken Amakcham |
| 1993 | Sambal Wangma | Won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 41st National Film Awards. Selected for Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India 1994. | K. Ibohal Sharma |
| Madhabee | Movie with the longest running time (197 minutes) in the history of Manipuri cinema. It is based on the first Manipuri novel of the same title by Dr. Lamabam Kamal. | L. Banka Sharma | |
| 1994 | Mayophy Gee Macha | Won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 42nd National Film Awards. | Oken Amakcham |
| 1995 | Sanabi | Won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 43rd National Film Awards. Screened at the International Film Festival of India and Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt.[16] | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1997 | Khamba Thoibi | Based on the Mahakavya (epic) Khamba Thoibi written by Hijam Anganghal. | Moirangthem Nilamani Singh |
| 2000 | Chatledo Eidi | Won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 48th National Film Awards.[18] Selected for Indian Panorama of the 32nd International Film Festival of India 2001. | Makhonmani Mongsaba |
| Paari | The first Manipuri children's film. | Aribam Syam Sharma | |
| 2002 | Lammei | The first Manipuri video film to have a commercial screening at a theatre. It marked the beginning of a digital era in Manipuri cinema. | Oken Amakcham |
| 2007 | Yenning Amadi Likla | Entered into the feature film section of the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India 2007. | Makhonmani Mongsaba |
| 2009 | Nobap | Opening film at the 2nd Guwahati Film Festival 2009.[19] | Heisnam Tomba |
| Keibu Keioiba | Official selection in the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2010; first animated feature film in Manipuri. | Bhumenjoy Konsam | |
| 2011 | Phijigee Mani | Received award for Best Supporting Actress (Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi) and the regional award for National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 59th National Film Awards. Selected for Indian Panorama 2011. | Oinam Gautam Singh |
| Fried Fish, Chicken Soup and a Premiere Show | National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film at the 59th National Film Awards. | Mamta Murthy | |
| 2012 | Leipaklei | Selected for 14th Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea 2012, 18th Kolkata International Film Festival and 5th Guwahati Film Festival.
Won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 60th National Film Awards.[16] |
Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 2013 | Nangna Kappa Pakchade | Received Special Jury Award with the title Epic Mirror of the Century in the Kinshasa International Film Festival 2017.
Screened at Ladakh International Film Festival 2014 in the Indian Feature section. |
Makhonmani Mongsaba |
| 2014 | Pallepfam | Screened in the 10th Habitat Film Festival in May 2015.[20] Opened the 2nd edition of Fragrances from the Northeast, a 3-day festival of cinema from the northeast.[21] Official selection in the 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2015 under the section New Horizon from the North East.[22] | Wanglen Khundongbam |
| 2015 | Eibusu Yaohanbiyu | Won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 63rd National Film Awards. | Maipaksana Haorongbam |
| 2016 | Loktak Lairembee | Participated in around 16 International Film Festivals across the globe and won several awards. Won Best Film on Environment/Conservation/Preservation at the 64th National Film Awards.[23] | Haobam Paban Kumar |
| 2018 | Magi Matambakta | Selected for Bengaluru International Film Festival 2018, Third Eye Asian Film Festival, Mumbai 2020 and Delhi International Film Festival 2020. Won the Best Manipuri Film in the 2nd Jharkhand International Film Festival Awards (JIFFA) 2019. | Makhonmani Mongsaba |
| 2019 | Nongphadok Lakpa Atithi | Premiered at the 3rd Guwahati International Film Festival as the Opening Film of the Indian Section. Official selection at 5th North-East Film Festival 2020, Pune. Opening Film at 12th International Guwahati Film Festival 2020.[24] | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| Pandam Amada | World premiered at the Dhaka International Film Festival 2020. | Oinam Gautam Singh | |
| Eigi Kona | Won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 67th National Film Awards. Selected for the 51st International Film Festival of India (Indian Panorama) in the feature section.[25] Official selections at the Indica Film Utsav 2020, 4th Ottawa Indian Film Festival Awards (OIFFA) 2021 and Thrissur International Film Festival 2021.[26] | Bobby Wahengbam and Maipaksana Haorongbam | |
| 2020 | Nine Hills One Valley | Special Mention Award in the Film Bazaar Recommends Section of the Film Bazaar 2020.[27] Official selection at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2021, Indonesia.[28] Entered into the India Gold section of the 22nd Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2022.[29] | Haobam Paban Kumar |
| Nakamh-Riangsuanneic | World premiered at the International Folklore Film Festival of Kerala 2021.[30] A Rongmei film. | Kachangthai Gonmei | |
| 2021 | Eikhoigi Yum | Official selections at the 22nd Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2022 and 27th International Film Festival of Kerala 2022.[31][32] Won Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 69th National Film Awards.[33] | Romi Meitei |
| Apaiba Leichil | Official selections at the 18th International Film Festival of Thrissur 2023, Kerala and Kashish International Queer Film Festival 2023, Mumbai.[34] | Bobby Wahengbam |
Notable non-feature films: 1972-2022
This section covers notable Manipuri non-feature films released between 9 April 1972 and 9 April 2022, with Maipak: Son of Manipur being the exception in the categorization (released in 1971). Notable films, in this context, include those films which have participated in or won awards in national and international film festivals, and the films which have made history (for example, first full-length film, first filmmaker, first color film, longest movie).
| Year of release | Film | Notes | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Maipak: Son of Manipur | The first Manipuri documentary film to be screened publicly. | Debkumar Bose |
| 1984 | Pebet | Best Short Fiction Film in the International Short Film Festival, Kolkata 1985. Selected for Panorama Section of the International Film Festival of India, New Delhi 1985. | Arambam Lokendra |
| 1989 | The Deer on the Lake | Won the National Film Award for Best Environment/Conservation/Preservation Film at the 37th National Film Awards.[16] | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1991 | Meitei Pung | Won the Special Mention Award at the 39th National Film Awards.[16] | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| Lai Haraoba | Official selection in the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), 1992.[16] | Aribam Syam Sharma | |
| 1993 | Orchids of Manipur | Won the Best Environment/Conservation/Preservation Film at the 41st National Film Awards.
Screened at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2019, Japan.[16] |
Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1995 | Yelhou Jagoi | Won the National Film Award for Best Anthropological/Ethnographic Film at the 43rd National Film Awards.
Screened at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2019, Japan.[16] |
Aribam Syam Sharma |
| 1999 | Thang-Ta: The Martial Arts of Manipur | Won the National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film at the 47th National Film Awards.[16] | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| The Marams | Participated at Indian Panorama of IFFI, 2000; Mumbai International Film Festival 2000 in competition section and Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, 2000. | Aribam Syam Sharma | |
| 2001 | Threads of Life | Official selection at the 7th Mumbai International Film Festival 2002.[35] | Bachaspatimayum Sunzu |
| 2004 | Nongdi Tarakkhidare | Selected for Indian Panorama of International Film Festival of India, Goa, 2004. | Ningthouja Lancha |
| 2006 | Guru Laimayum Thambalngoubi Devi | Won the National Film Award for Best Biographical Film at the 54th National Film Awards. | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| Ngaihak Lambida | Got entry into Indian Panorama (non feature section) of the 38th International Film Festival of India 2007. Participated in the Third Eye 6th Asian Film Festival, Mumbai 2007. | Haobam Paban Kumar | |
| 2007 | Ratan Thiyam: The Man of Theatre | Selected for Indian Panorama of International Film Festival of India, 2008 and 11th Mumbai International Film Festival 2008. | Oken Amakcham Nirmala Chanu |
| Rajarshi Bhagyachandra of Manipur | Selection at the Indian Panorama in the non-feature section of IFFI 2007. | Aribam Syam Sharma | |
| 2008 | AFSPA, 1958 | Won the National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film at the 56th National Film Awards. | Haobam Paban Kumar |
| Challenge/Singnaba | Won the National Film Award for Exploration & Sports at the 56th National Film Awards. | Sunzu Bachaspatimayum | |
| Sana Keithel | Won the National Film Award for Best Narration/Voice Over at the 56th National Film Awards. | Natasha Elangbam | |
| Nungee Mit | Best Short Film in 2nd Cine ASA International Film Festival 2009, Guwahati. Screened at Asiatica Film Mediale, Rome, Italy, 2009; Mumbai International Film Festival 2010; PLAN 9 Festival of Experimental Movies, Prague, 2011. | Chaoba Thiyam | |
| 2009 | Mr. India | Won the National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues at the 57th National Film Awards. | Haobam Paban Kumar |
| Ilisha Amagi Mahao | Best Director Award in the Cine ASA International Film Festival 2009, Guwahati. Featured in the Indian Panorama of International Film Festival of India, Goa, 2009. Official selection at the 25th Munich International Film Festival 2010. | Ningthouja Lancha | |
| Boiling Blood | Selection at 11th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2010. | Khwairakpam Bishwamittra | |
| Roshni | Selection at 11th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2010. | Bobby Wahengbam | |
| The Sun is not Still Setting | Selection at 11th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2010. | Suvas E. | |
| 2010 | Heart to Heart | Won the National Film Award for Best Scientific Film at the 58th National Film Awards. | Bachaspatimayum Sunzu |
| Songs of Mashangva | Won the National Film Award for Best Anthropological/Ethnographic Film on Social Issues at the 58th National Film Awards. | Oinam Doren | |
| The Zeliangrongs | Won Special Mention Award at the 58th National Film Awards. | Ronel Haobam | |
| Cease Baby’s Whimpering Cry | Official selection at Mumbai International Film Festival 2010 and SIGN 2010. | Romi Meitei | |
| 2011 | The Silent Poet | Won the National Film Award for Best First Non-Feature Film at the 59th National Film Awards Bagged the Best Documentary Award in the 2nd Siliguri International Short & Doc. Film Festival 2011.
Official selections at the MIFF 2012, ADDA Film Festival 2013 and Indie 8 Film Festival 2013. |
Borun Thokchom |
| Noong Amadi Yeroom | Official selection in Indian Panorama of the 42nd International Film Festival of India, Mumbai International Film Festival 2012. 2nd Best Film in Manhattan Short Film Festival. Official selection at Beyond Bollywood Festival, Frankfurt. | Romi Meitei | |
| My Grandpa's Home | Screened at the Mumbai International Film Festival 2014. A Poulah film. | Alexander Leo Pou | |
| 2012 | Manipuri Pony | Won the National Film Award for Best Exploration/Adventure Film (Including sports) at the 60th National Film Awards. | Aribam Syam Sharma |
| Kaangkhada Lin | Received Best Director & Best Film Awards at Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival (BVFF) 2013 and Mumbai International Film Festival 2014. | Romi Meitei | |
| 2013 | Karfew | 2nd Best Film Award in Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2014. Won the 2nd Prize at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)'s Short Film Award Competition 2022.[36] | Romi Meitei |
| 2014 | Phum Shang | Won the National Film Award for Best Investigative Film at the 62nd National Film Awards. Best Medium Length Film at 18th International Environmental Film & Video Festival, Goias, Brazil 2016.[37] | Haobam Paban Kumar |
| 2015 | Auto Driver | Won the National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues at the 63rd National Film Awards.[38] | Longjam Meena Devi |
| It's Not My Choice | The first Indian short film to be adapted in Thai language.[39][40] Won Special Jury Mention and Best Film on Social Cause at the 2015 Highland Independent Film Festival, Shimla. Won Best Filmmaker for a Cause and Best Story at the Jalandhar Short Film Festival 2015. Won Honorable Mention at the Riverdale International Short Film Festival 2017.[41] | Priyakanta Laishram | |
| Eesing gi Machu (Colors of Water) | Best Director and Best Film Awards at Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2015 and Mumbai International Film Festival 2016. | Romi Meitei | |
| 2016 | Ima Sabitri | Bagged the Best Documentary Film Award at the 15th Mumbai International Film Festival. Winner of the Women of the Lens Film Digital Broadcast Festival 2017.[42] Opening Film, Indian Panorama IFFI 2016. | Bobo Khuraijam |
| Tou-Tai (Seed) | Best Short Film (Golden Royal Bengal Tiger) in the 22nd Kolkata International Film Festival 2016.[43] | Ashok Veilou | |
| 2017 | Bloody Phanek | Selected for 9th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival 2017, South Korea. Screened at the Ethanografilm Paris Film Festival 2019, France. | Sonia Nepram |
| Theatre of the Earth | Winner of Satyajit Ray Bronze Award for the 3rd Best Documentary at the 2nd South Asian Short Film Festival.[44] | Oinam Doren | |
| 2018 | Look At The Sky | Best Short Fiction Film at the 12th International Documentary and Short Film Festival Kerala, 2019. A Poulah film. | Ashok Veilou |
| Fireflies | Best Documentary Short at Arthouse Asia International Film Festival 2018. Official selections at Balkan Can Kino 2018, Athens; Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival 2019. | Johnson Rajkumar | |
| Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup? | Won the Best Multimedia Influencer Award at Lifestyle Young Influencer Awards 2018, Mumbai.[45] | Priyakanta Laishram | |
| Pe (The Umbrella) | Won Best Short Film at the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2019.[46] | Rakesh Moirangthem | |
| Daughters of the Polo God | Best Documentary award in the 19th Annual New York Indian Film Festival.[47] | Roopa Barua | |
| 2019 | I Rise | Best Documentary Award at the Mumbai Short International Film Festival 2020. Best Film on Women and the Outstanding Achievement Awards at the Tagore International Film Festival 2020. Official selection in the 16th International Short and Independent Film Festival, Dhaka 2022 and 17th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2022.[48] | Borun Thokchom |
| The Foul Truth (Amakpa Achumba) | Won Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Symbiosis Allied Media Awards 2019, Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actor In A Leading Role at the Short Motion Pictures National Wave Festival 2018 and Best Film On Other Social Issues at the St. Leuven International Short Film Festival 2019.[49] | Priyakanta Laishram | |
| Motsillaba Mingsel | Won Best Director and Best Child Artist awards at the Cochin International Shortfilm Awards 2021. Official selections at the Lift-Off Global Network Sessions 2021[50] and the 12th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2021.[51] Winner of the Grand Jury Award for Best Film and House of Illusion Award for Best Short Fiction at the Chalachitram National Film Festival 2021.[52] Won the Best Short Film Award at The Himalayan Film Festival 2021.[53] | Romi Meitei | |
| 2020 | Highways of Life | Got selection at the 51st International Film Festival of India (Indian Panorama) in the non-feature section.[54] Won Best Film Award at the 8th Liberation DocFest, Bangladesh 2020. Official selection at the 13th Festival of Southasian Documentaries 2022, Kathmandu. | Amar Maibam |
| 2021 | Pabung Syam | Official selections at the 52nd International Film Festival of India 2021 in the non-feature section of Indian Panorama and 17th Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation films (MIFF) 2022.[55][56] Winner of Best Biographical Film at the 68th National Film Awards.[57] | Haobam Paban Kumar |
| Beyond Blast | Won Best Biographical Film at the 69th National Film Awards.[58] Official selection at the 13th Festival of South Asian Documentaries 2022, Kathmandu.[59] | Saikhom Ratan | |
| Spaced Out - Panthung Di Kadaaida! | The first Manipuri film to be dubbed in Punjabi and Haryanvi.[60]
Won Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Human Rights & Social Issues Film Festival 2019 in Tokyo, and Best Actor in Drama and Best Screenplay at the Short & Non-Feature Motion Pictures Wave Festival 2020–2021 in Delhi.[61] |
Priyakanta Laishram |
Notable feature films: 2022-present
This section covers notable Manipuri feature films released since 9 April 2022.
| Year of release | Film | Notes | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Joseph's Son | Premiered at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival 2023.[62] | Haobam Paban Kumar |
| 2024 | Oneness | The first Manipuri film to address same-sex relationships.[63]
World premiered at the KASHISH Pride Film Festival 2024, Mumbai.[64] The first Meitei language film to be officially selected and screened at the Bangalore Queer Film Festival 2024.[65] |
Priyakanta Laishram |
| Boong | Official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival 2024.[66] Won BAFTA Award for Best Children's & Family Film, and became the first Indian film to win a BAFTA.[67] | Lakshmipriya Devi | |
| Langdai Ama | Best Direction award at the 9th Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2024.[68] | Binoranjan Oinam | |
| Oitharei | Official selection at the 56th International Film Festival of India in the Indian Panorama section.[69] | Dinesh Naorem | |
| 2025 | Phouoibee | Official selection for Competition on Indian Languages at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival.[70][71] | Rakesh Moirangthem |
Notable non-feature films: 2022-present
This section covers notable Manipuri non-feature films released since 9 April 2022.
| Year of release |
Film | Notes | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Meiram - The Fire Line | Opening film at the 17th Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation films (MIFF) 2022.[72] | James Khangembam |
| Lembi Leima | Official selection at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023.[73] | Mayank Pratap Singh | |
| Padma Shri Wareppa Naba: Rituals to Mainstream | Official selection at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival.[74] | Bobby Wahengbam | |
| 2023 | Subedar | Official selection at the Nepal International Film Festival 2023.[75] | Th. Rolivin, G. Devadarshan & A. Debabarta |
| Andro Dreams | Premiered at the 15th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala 2023.[76] Opening film at the 54th International Film Festival of India in the Indian Panorama Non-Feature section.[77] | Meena Longjam | |
| Last Meet | Official selection at the 54th International Film Festival of India in the Indian Panorama Non-Feature section.[78] | Waribam Dorendra Singh | |
| Iron Women of Manipur | Premiered at the 15th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala 2023.[79] | Haobam Paban | |
| 2024 | Chara Iyong | Screened in the Unheard India (Rare Language) category at the 30th Kolkata International Film Festival 2024.[80] | Ningthouja Lancha |
| 2025 | The Silent Performer | Official selection at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival 2025.[81] | Huidrom Rakesh |
| Battlefield | Official selection at the 56th International Film Festival of India in the Indian Panorama section.[82] | Borun Thokchom |