Manipur is a state in northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanmar, Sagaing Region to the east and Chin State to the south. The state covers an area of 22,327 km2 (8,621 sq mi). The official and most widely spoken language is the Meitei language. Native to the Meitei people, it is also used as a lingua franca by smaller communities, who speak a variety of other Tibeto-Burman languages. Manipur has been at the crossroads of Asian economic and cultural exchange for more than 2,500 years. This exchange connects the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia to Southeast Asia, East Asia, Siberia, regions in the Arctic, Micronesia and Polynesia enabling migration of people, cultures and religions.
Elam Endira Devi, is an Indian classical dancer and teacher, known for her expertise and scholarship in the classical dance form of Manipuri, especially in the genres of Lai Haraoba and Raas. The Government of India honored her, in 2014, with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for her services to the field of art and culture.
Pakhangba is a primordial deity, often represented in the form of a dragon, in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is depicted in the heraldry of Manipur kingdom, which originated in paphal, mythical illustrations of the deity. It is believed that the ancestor of one of the Meitei clans manifested himself as the Pakhangba.
Khangembam Mangi Singh, popularly known as Guru Pena Mangi, was an Indian musician, known for his expertise on the Manipuri traditional musical instrument Pena. The Government of India honored him in 2011, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri.
Pallepfam is a 2014 Indian Meitei language film produced and directed by Wanglen Khundongbam. The film features Redy Yumnam, Leishangthem Tonthoi and Apsara Anoubam in the lead roles. The story of the film was written by Dr. Moirangthem Achumba. Pallepfam is Wanglen Khundongbam's debut film. The movie was selected in the 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2015 under the section New Horizon from the North East.
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), Oken Amakcham's Lammei, the first Manipuri digital film (2002), to Priyakanta Laishram's Oneness (film), the first Manipuri gay-themed film (2023), Manipuri cinema, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, has grown in both its form and culture.
Nangna Kappa Pakchade is a 2013 Indian Meitei language film directed by Makhonmani Mongsaba and produced by Thoungamba Thouyangba, under the banner of P.K. Films. The film features Leishangthem Tonthoi and Denny Likmabam in the lead roles. The story of the film was written by Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi. The film got selection at the 3rd Delhi International Film Festival 2014. The film was screened at Gorky Sadan Hall, Kolkata on 8 March 2014 on the occasion of International Women's Day. It also got selection at Ladakh International Film Festival 2014 in the Indian Feature section. The movie was screened in the competition section of the Kinshasa International Film Festival (KIFF) 2017, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Leipaklei is a 2012 Indian Meitei language film directed and produced by Aribam Syam Sharma. It stars Leishangthem Tonthoi in the title role. The story of the film was written by Arambam Samarendra and screenplay by Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi. Leipaklei was screened on the inaugural day of 5th Guwahati Film Festival 2012. It was also screened at the 18th Kolkata International Film Festival and Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) held at Jeonju, South Korea. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 60th National Film Awards.
Iche Tampha is a 2017 Indian Meitei language film directed by Bijgupta Laishram and produced by Kh. Nipen. It stars Tonthoi Leishangthem as the titular protagonist, with Gokul Athokpam, Bala Hijam and Redy Yumnam in the lead roles. The film was released at MSFDS, Palace Compound on 5 March 2017.
Romi Meitei is an Indian film director and lyricist who works in Manipuri films. He is a recipient of several awards at several film festivals organised in India and abroad and has directed movies for around two decades. Thoiba Thoibi, Inga Nonglakta, Manithoiba, Natephamda Tero, Chumthang Makhong, Mikithi and Dharmagi Mingda Imagidamak are some of the well-known movies he directed.
Eigi Kona is a 2019 Indian Meitei language 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.
R. K. Bidur Singh was a notable Indian film critic and film society activist from Imphal, Manipur. He won the Best Critic Award at the 56th National Film Awards. He worked as a government employee and retired as an assistant account officer. His published books include Wakhal Machu Machu, Shaktam Makhal Makhal (2011), Mitkup Khara (2012) and Kaunakhigadra Haina (2013).
Nine Hills One Valley is a 2021 Indian Manipuri-Tangkhul bilingual film conceptualized and directed by Haobam Paban Kumar. It is produced by Warepam Jhansirani and Haobam Paban Kumar for Oli Pictures. The movie was among 19 feature films selected for Film Bazaar Recommends (FBR) section of the Film Bazaar 2020. It was premiered at the 16th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2021, Indonesia.
Pabung Syam is a 2021 Indian Meitei language 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 2021 Indian Meitei language 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. On IMDb, Eikhoigi Yum is ranked third among the top three Manipuri films, after Ishanou and Oneness (film). The film won National Film Award For Best Film In Meiteilon at the 69th National Film Awards.
Apaiba Leichil is a 2021 Indian Meitei language film directed by Bobby Wahengbam. It is jointly produced by Wahengbam Tomba, Hanjabam Sobhananda (Bung) Sharma and Bobby Wahengbam under the banner of Third Eye Productions. The film is based on the short story Nungshibagi Saklon (Nungsitombi) by Rajmani Ayekpam. It stars Bishesh Huirem and Arun Yumnam in the lead roles. The film won three awards at the 14th Manipur State Film Awards 2022. It got official selections at the 18th International Film Festival of Thrissur 2023, Kerala Kashish International Queer Film Festival 2023, Mumbai.
Manipuri Language Day, is an annual celebration of the Manipuri (Meitei) language in India and Bangladesh 20 August. It is a of the day on which Manipuri was added to the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India, making it one of the official languages of India on 20 August 1992.
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.
The South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) is an international cultural organization that works for the development of the Meitei culture of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur'). It aims to preserve the unique history, culture, identity, and religion of Manipur. It also advocates to take "extra caution about the issue of preservation of the cultural identity of the Indigenous people in the wake of the present globalization".
Meitei cinema, also known as Maniwood, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Meitei language, widely spoken in the state of Manipur. The popular term Maniwood, is a portmanteau of "Manipuri" and "Hollywood".
