Surja Bala Hijam, better known as Bala Hijam is an Indian actress, who predominantly appears in Manipuri films. She is known for her lead role in Malayalam road film, titled Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi.
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.
Tonthoingambi Leishangthem, popularly known as Tonthoi, is an Indian actress. She has established a career in Manipuri films and is the recipient of several awards, including a National Film Award.
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 and M.A. Singh's Langlen Thadoi to Oken Amakcham's Lammei and Haobam Paban Kumar's Loktak Lairembee and many others, Manipuri cinema, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, has grown in both its form and culture.
Yaiskulgee Pakhang Angaoba is a 2011 Manipuri film written and directed by Homen D' Wai. It is produced by Premjit Naoroibam and Kenedy Naoroibam, and presented by Anita Naoroibam. It stars Gurumayum Bonny as the titular protagonist with Bala Hijam in the lead roles. The background score of the film was given by Surmani (Rishi). The film was released at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), Imphal on 17 December 2011 and screened in different theatres of Manipur in February 2012, including Friends Talkies, Paona Bazar. The movie garnered wide critical acclaim upon its release and was a 2012 hit film of Manipur. It was re-released at Tanthapolis Cinema, Lamphel on 13 October 2024.
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.
Makhonmani Mongsaba is an Indian author, actor, producer and director from Imphal, Manipur. He got his doctorate degree in Manipuri from Manipur University. In 2013, he won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for his book Chinglon Amadagi Amada, a travelogue. He published the book Matamgi Manipur:The First Manipuri Feature Film by Bobby Wahengbam under the name Angomningthou Preservation and Documentation. It won the Best Book on Cinema at the 65th National Film Awards 2018 and both the writer and the publisher received the Swarna Kamal award.
Sanabi is a 1995 Manipuri film written by M. K. Binodini Devi and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. The movie stars Haorongbam Deben and R.K. Sushila in the lead roles. It was jointly produced by Doordarshan and National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 43rd National Film Awards. Sanabi got selection at the International Film Festival of India, 1996 and Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt, 1996.
Oken Amakcham is an Indian film director, music director and actor who works in Manipuri films. He started his career in theatre and performing arts. He is a recipient of the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri for the movie Mayophygee Macha at the 42nd National Film Awards. In 2002, he directed Lammei which marked the beginning of a digital era in Manipuri cinema. He took the role of music director in many of his movies. Cheina, Tellangga Mamei, Nungshithel are some of his notable films. He had been a jury member of 58th National Film Awards.
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 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.
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.
Bobby Wahengbam is an Indian filmmaker, producer, writer and film critic known for his works in Manipuri films. He is the recipient of several accolades, including two National Film Awards. As a film critic, he contributed regularly for local and national newspapers for the last two decades, where some of his writings have been translated into other languages as well. Now, he regularly writes as a cinema critic for The People's Chronicle, a local English daily, every Sunday.
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.
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.
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.
Basantagee Nongallamdai is a 2006 Manipuri film directed by Tej Kshetri and produced by Kshetrimayum Muhindro, under the banner of TV 10 and presented by Salam Dwijamani. It stars Kaiku Rajkumar and Maya Choudhury in the lead roles. The film was premiered at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), Imphal in 2006. The movie was later released at Shankar Talkies, Lamphel and screened at the theatre for more than 50 days. Its second and third installments, respectively titled as Ujaningba Saktam and Achumba Paokhum were released in 2007 and 2009.
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.
