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.
Gurumayum Bonny Sharma is an Indian actor and singer who predominantly appears in Manipuri films. He is a resident of Keishamthong Maning Longjam Leikai, Imphal, Manipur. He has also worked in the Shumang Kumheis including Kunti series, Nongallamdaisida, Opium War, and Pizza.
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.
Aronba Wari is a 2020 Manipuri film directed by OC Meira and produced by Rajkumari Nalini Devi, under the banner of Seuti Films. It stars Silheiba Ningthoujam, Suraj Ngashepam, Bala Hijam and Sushmita Mangsatabam in the lead roles. The movie is based on Sarungbam Binodini Devi's novel Minoktugi Marumda. It was initially slated to be released on 21 March 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was premiered on 11 October 2020 at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Imphal.
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.
Ima Machet Icha Tangkhai is a 2021 Manipuri film directed by Khoibam 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.
Bangladeshki Sana Tampha is a 2020 multi-starrer Manipuri film directed by OC Meira and produced by Rakesh Naorem and Ibungohal Shyamal, under the banner of Ipak Films. Portraying the lifestyle of Meiteis in Bangladesh, the film stars Gurumayum Bonny, Abenao Elangbam, Bala Tensubam, Narmada Sougaijam, Gepelina Mayanglambam and Ashok Seleibam in the lead roles. The movie was released at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) on 25 January 2020.
Apaiba Leichil is a 2021 Manipuri 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. The movie was screened at the Sangai Film Festival 2022, which was organised as a part of the Manipur Sangai Festival.
Larei Lathup is a 2021 Manipuri film written and directed by Ojitbabu Ningthoujam. It stars Silheiba Ningthoujam and Ithoi Oinam in the lead roles. The film was premiered at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) on 13 November 2021. It was the opening film (fiction) at the Festival of Cinemas of Manipur 2022, a 15-day long multi-lingual film festival organised by MSFDS in April 2022.
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".
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.
Rongdaife is a 2021 Manipuri film directed by Bobby Haobam and produced by Vincent Nameirakpam. The film is a production of VINTel Infracom Private Limited in association with Sayon Entertainment. It stars Leishangthem Tonthoi, Somen Chanam and Nunglen Luwang in the lead roles. It is based on Lekhajit Laishram's comic story Laina Pakpi. Principal photography of the movie was done in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
Bloody Phanek is a 2017 Manipuri documentary film produced and directed by Sonia Nepram. It is produced under the banner of Yelhoumee Pictures with support of DMZ Docs Fund and DocEdge Kolkata. The film was screened at various film festivals, which include 9th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival 2017, South Korea; South Asian Short Film Festival 2017, Kolkata; Kathmandu Mountain International Film Festival 2018; 5th Peloponnisos International Documentary Festival 2019, Greece; People’s Film Collective 2019, Kolkata; Vizantrop Festival 2019, Serbia; Days of Ethnographic Cinema 2020, Moscow; Film South Asia Festival 2020, Kathmandu and Ethnografilm Paris Film Festival, France.
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.
Nungshi Keithel is a 2021 Manipuri film directed by Mangal Chabungbam and produced by Sunil Thokchom under the banner of Ngangkhaleima Pictures. It stars Silheiba Ningthoujam and Biju Ningombam in the lead roles. The movie was released at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Palace Compound on 26 December 2021. The film is an adaptation of Ranjit Ningthouja's famous Shumang leela Maogi Ebai. It was also screened at the Sangai Film Festival 2022, which was organised as a part of the Manipur Sangai Festival.
Nungshi Lottery Phaorehe is a 2022 romantic comedy Manipuri film directed by O. Gautam and produced by Sunin Angomcha under the banner of Mashu Maben Films. It stars Silheiba Ningthoujam, Dolly Gurumayum and Kripalaxmi Gurumayum in the lead roles. The movie was theatrically released at Friends Talkies, Paona Bazar in October 2022. It was also screened on the opening day of the Sangai Film Festival 2022, which was organised as a part of the Manipur Sangai Festival. The film was certified by CBFC in 2021, but was released in 2022.
Nongallamdaisida is a 2022 Manipuri film directed by O. Gautam and produced by Nobin Phairembam under the banner of NB Poireicha Films. It stars Hamom Sadananda, Gurumayum Bonny, Manganba Phairembam and Biju Ningombam in the lead roles. The movie was released at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) on 19 June 2022. It was also screened at the Sangai Film Festival 2022, which was organised as a part of the Manipur Sangai Festival. The film was certified by CBFC in 2021, but was released in 2022.
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.
Silheiba Ningthoujam is an Indian actor who appears in Manipuri films. He has won a number of accolades, including a Manipur State Film Award. His main mentor in acting and cinema is his eldest brother and celebrated filmmaker, Ojitbabu Ningthoujam. He started portraying lead roles in movies, starting with the 2014 film Leikai Lallumba. His famous movies include Korounganba series, Leikai Lallumba, Wakchingi Len, Ei Actor Natte and Larei Lathup.
