Aribam Syam Sharma is an Indian filmmaker and composer from Manipur. He debuted in the first Manipuri film Matamgi Manipur as an actor. In 1974, he directed his first movie Lamja Parshuram. It became the first Manipuri film to run for 100 days in the box office. His 1979 film Olangthagee Wangmadasoo was the first ever and the only Manipuri film to run for 32 weeks. It also broke the local box office records of Sholay.
The Cinema of Manipur is the film industry based in Manipur, India. It includes not only Meitei language movies but all the films made in different languages of the different communities in Manipur. The Manipuri film industry was born when Matamgi Manipur by Debkumar Bose was released on 9 April 1972. From Aribam Syam Sharma's Paokhum Ama, the first colour Manipuri film (1983), M.A Singh's Langlen Thadoi, the first full-length colour Manipuri film (1984) to Oken Amakcham's Lammei, the first Manipuri digital film (2002), Manipuri cinema, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, has grown in both its form and culture.
Haobam Paban Kumar is an Indian filmmaker from state of Manipur. Kumar's films and documentaries have been screened in several places across the globe.
Auto Driver is a 2015 Manipuri documentary film directed by Meena Longjam. It tells the story of Laibi Oinam 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.
Romi Meitei is an Indian film director, screenwriter and lyricist who works in Manipuri films. He is a recipient of several awards at film festivals organized in India and abroad, including a National Film Award.
Eigi Kona is a 2019 Manipuri film directed by Bobby Wahengbam and Maipaksana Haorongbam and produced by Dr. K. Sushila Leima, under the banner of Luwang Apokpa Mamikol Productions. The film was premiered at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Palace Compound in 2019. Eigi Kona was selected for Indian Panorama of the 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2020. The movie won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 67th National Film Awards.
Manipuri Pony is a 2013 non-feature Manipuri film scripted by Aribam Gautam and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. It is produced by Films Division of India. The film won the National Film Award for Best Exploration / Adventure Film at the 60th National Film Awards. The movie was also selected in the Indian Panorama of the 44th International Film Festival of India 2013 and the Mumbai International Film Festival in 2014.
Huirem Seema was an Indian actress from Imphal, Manipur. She had appeared in more than 100 Manipuri films. As a producer, she had four Manipuri digital films to her credit. She was best known for her roles in movies like Kanaga Hinghouni, Chang Shi Chang, Lakhipurgi Lakhipyari, Naoshum, Yumleima Lamleima and Thasi Thanou. Two films where she acted, namely Yenning Amadi Likla (feature) and Ngaihak Lambida (non-feature) made entries into the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India.
Ima Machet Icha Tangkhai is a 2021 Manipuri film directed by Homeshwori and produced by Chingsubam Khumanleima for Luwang Films. It stars Gokul Athokpam, Gurumayum Bonny, Abenao Elangbam, Soma Laishram and Luwangthoibi Chanu. The movie was released on 7 November 2021 at Manipur State Film Development Society in the Palace Compound, Imphal, with MP and titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba attending as the chief guest. It was also screened at the Sangai Film Festival 2022, which was organised as a part of the Manipur Sangai Festival.
Pabung Syam is a 2021 Manipuri documentary film directed by Haobam Paban Kumar. It is produced by Films Division of India. The film was selected in the non-feature section of the Indian Panorama at the 52nd International Film Festival of India 2021. It won the Best Biographical Film award at the 68th National Film Awards.
Eikhoigi Yum is a 2022 Manipuri film directed by Romi Meitei. It is jointly produced by Sheetal Chingsu and Romi Meitei under the banner of Thangarakpa Living Frames. The film got official selection at the 22nd Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2022. It was the opening film at the 1st Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival 2022. The film was certified by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2021. The film won the National Film Award For Best Film In Meiteilon at the 69th National Film Awards.
Eewai is a 2022 non-feature Manipuri film directed by Khwairakpam Bishwamittra. It is produced by Samir Thingbaijam under the banner of Nongdol Mamikol. The film stars Leishangthem Tonthoi in the lead role. It was premiered at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Imphal on 26 June 2022. The film got official selections at the 4th Nepal Cultural International Film Festival 2022, Druk International Film Festival 2022 (Bhutan), Festivus Film Fest Canada 2022, Dadashaheb Phalke International Film Festival India 2023 and Gangtok International Film Festival 2022.
Khwairakpam Bishwamittra is an Indian film director, actor and script writer who works in theatre and Manipuri films. He first appeared on silver screen in the 1996 hit film Kanaga Hinghouni, where he co-directed with Chan Heisnam. Some of the famous films he directed include Kaorage, Torei and Sur Da Ngaojabee. He is also a renowned playwright of Manipuri Shumang Leelas and stage plays produced by AIR Imphal and Doordarshan DDK Imphal. As of 2022, his non-feature Eewai got official selection at the 4th Nepal Cultural International Film Festival 2022. Eewai was screened at the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival in Short and Documentary Panorama section on 19 and 21 December 2022 at Nandan-III and Sichir Mancha, Kolkata.
2023 in Meitei culture, including but not limited to Meitei architecture, Meitei cinema, Meitei cuisine, Meitei dances, Meitei festivals, Meitei language, Meitei literature, Meitei music, Meitei religion, Meitei script, etc.
Iron Women of Manipur is a 2022 non-feature Manipuri documentary film directed by Haobam Paban Kumar. It is produced by Films Division of India and narrated by Ratneshwari Goswami. The film won four awards at the 15th Manipur State Film Awards 2023.
Beyond Blast is a 2021 Manipuri documentary film produced by Konjengbam Sushila Leima and directed by Saikhom Ratan, under the banner of Luwang Apokpa Mamikol. The film was selected in the non-feature section of the Indian Panorama at the 53rd International Film Festival of India 2022. It won the Best Biographical Film award at the 69th National Film Awards. The film got official selection at the 13th Festival of South Asian Documentaries 2022, Kathmandu.
Highways of Life is a 2020 Manipuri film directed by Amar Maibam and produced by Films Division of India. The film got selections at the 51st International Film Festival of India in the non-feature section and 13th Festival of Southasian Documentaries 2022, Kathmandu.
Meiram - The Fire Line is a 2022 Manipuri documentary film written and directed by James Khangembam. It was the opening film at the 17th Mumbai International Film Festival 2022. The film was selected in the International Prism section of the festival. It also got selection in the Competition Short Documentary section of the 14th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) 2022. The film was commercially screened at Tanthapolis Cinema, Lamphel on 4 March 2023.
Bobo Khuraijam, also known as Senate, is an Indian film director and journalist from Imphal, Manipur. He honed his filmmaking skill not from a film school. He considers Manipuri film legend, Aribam Syam Sharma as his film school. Under the maestro's tutelage, Khuraijam has worked as assistant director, script writer and actor. As a journalist, he has worked with the Imphal Free Press, a leading English local daily. He is also with the Editorial Collective of www.yendai.org, an e-journal. He is best known for his 2016 documentary Ima Sabitri.
