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 square kilometres (8,621 sq mi). The official and most widely spoken language is Meitei language. Native to the Meitei people, it is also used as a lingua franca by smaller communities, who speak a variety of other Sino-Tibetan languages. Manipur has been at the crossroads of Asian economic and cultural exchange for more than 2,500 years. It 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.
Meitei, also known as Manipuri, is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is spoken by around 1.8 million people, predominantly in the state of Manipur, but also by smaller communities in the rest of the country and in parts of neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh. It is native to the Meitei people, and within Manipur, it serves as an official language and a lingua franca. It was used as a court language in the historic Manipur Kingdom and is presently included among the 22 scheduled languages of India.
The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people, are the predominant ethnic group of Manipur in Northeast India. They speak Meitei language, one of the 22 official languages of the Indian Republic and the sole official language of Manipur. Many anthropologist classified Meitei goes through a process of Sankritisation and now exhibition characteristic of Hindu. Now, a social movement within the community is happening. The Meiteis primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, though a sizable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. There is also a notable presence of Meitei in the neighboring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.
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 was released on 9 April 1972. Before this, there were many attempts to make a film in the state, the most significant being Mainu Pemcha in 1948 which was left incomplete due to various problems.
Meira Paibi is a women's social movement in the Indian state of Manipur. Referred to as the "guardians of civil society", Meira Paibi dates to 1977 in present Kakching district. It derives its name from the flaming torches which the women carry while marching through city streets, often at night. They do so both as a patrol, and in protest, seeking redress against human rights violations committed by paramilitary and armed forces units against the innocent. Contextualized, Meira Paibi was founded at a time when the people of Manipur were fighting for self-determination, political autonomy, and independence.
The 1993 Manipur riot refers to the Hindu-Muslim riot followed by the large scale deaths of the Meitei Pangals and the Hindu Meiteis, on 3rd May 1993. In the past, there has been some land disputes and fear of Bengali Muslim influx.
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.
Phouoibi Shayon, also simply known as Phouoibi, is a 2017 Indian Meitei language mythological film, about goddess Phouoibi and other celestial fairies who came down to earth to prosper the human civilization. The film is directed by O. Samananda, starring Lilabati, Kaiku Rajkumar and Gokul Athokpam, under the collaboration of Kanglei Movies World and Sergey Film Production.
Yelhou Jagoi is a 1995 non-feature Indian Meitei language documentary film scripted by Rajkumar Achoubasana and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. It is conceptualized by Kapila Vatsyayan and produced by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi. The film was screened at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2019, Japan.
Orchids of Manipur is a 1993 non-feature Indian Meitei language film scripted by M. K. Binodini Devi and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. It is produced by Sh. Tomchou Singh under the banner of Manipur Film Development Corporation (MFDC) Limited. The film was screened at the second edition of Fragrances from the North East 2014, a three-day festival of cinema from the northeast.
Manipuri Pony is a 2013 non-feature Indian Meitei language 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.
Bangladeshki Sana Tampha is a 2020 multi-starrer Indian Meitei language 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.
Brojendragee Luhongba is a 1973 black and white Indian Meitei language film produced and directed by S.N. Chand, the first filmmaker of Manipur. It stars S.N. Chand and Y. Ramola Devi in lead roles. It is based on Lamabam Kamal's short story of the same title. S.N. Chand underwent cosmetic surgery for the film. Principal photography began in 1971 and the film got CBFC certification on 30 December 1972. The movie was released at Usha Cinema, Paona Bazar on 26 January 1973. The digitalised version (4K) of the film was screened at MSFDS, Imphal on 29 April 2022 as a part of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Manipuri Cinema.
Sambal Wangma is a 1993 Indian Meitei language film directed by K. Ibohal Sharma and produced by Ph. Sobita Devi. The story of the film was written by Ph. Sobita Devi and screenplay by K. Ibohal Sharma. It stars Khun Joykumar, Parvati and Star Kamei in the lead roles. A. Bimola and Khun Joykumar are playback singers of the songs in the movie. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 41st National Film Awards. It was also selected for Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India 1994.
Daughters of the Polo God is a 2018 Indian Meitei-English bilingual documentary film directed by Roopa Baruah and edited by Hemanti Sarkar. It is based on the story of girls and horses empowering each other. It is about saving the endangered Meitei horse and empowering women in the sport of polo simultaneously.
A Helloi or Heloi is a female nature spirit in Meitei mythology, folklore and religion. Hellois are often depicted in the forms of beautiful young women. They are often associated with seduction of men. They are the most powerful among the female spirits. They can cause diseases. The hellois are often known for their charming beauty, ecological balance and seduction of males. Hellois are sometimes seen as evil spirits in the forms of beautiful maidens.
Keibu Keioiba, also known as Kabui Keioiba, is a 2009 Meitei language Indian Manipuri animation feature film, directed by Bhumenjoy Konsam. It is the first Manipuri animation film, based on the Meitei folklore. It was screened in the 11th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) in 2010, under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Thabaton is an Indian Meitei language film series directed by Bijgupta Laishram and produced by Surjitkanta Ningthoukhongjam, under the banners of BB Films Production. The series consists of Thabaton 1 (2013), Thabaton 2 (2014), Thabaton 3 (2019), Thabaton 4 and Thabaton 5. Besides the romantic affairs, it is about the story of the struggle of women, against gender based discrimination, domestic violence, in the society to get their due rights. It is produced in the digital feature film format.
Priyakanta Laishram is an Indian actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and film editor from the Meitei ethnicity of Imphal, Manipur who predominantly appears in Manipuri films, known for his socially relevant movies. He is the first openly queer male Manipuri filmmaker known for Oneness, the first gay-themed film of Manipur, Northeast India. He is the first filmmaker to make the first mainstream Manipuri film dealing with same-sex relationships and sexual identity. He won several titles including The Youngest Filmmaker 2009 from Nokia and Manipur's Rising Star 2011 from Asian News International.
Women have significant roles in different elements of Meitei culture, including but not limited to Meitei dances, Meitei festivals, Meitei folklore, Meitei folktales, Meitei literature, Meitei mythology, Meitei religion, etc.
