Soma Laishram is an Indian actress and singer who appears in Manipuri films. She is a native of Imphal, Manipur. Nurei, Hoo Chaage, Loibataare Ta Raju, and Chanu IPS are some of her famous movies. In September 2021, Laishram joined the Republican Party of India - Athawale (RPI-A) and assumed the post of state unit president of its youth girls’ wing.
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.
Gurumayum Bonny Sharma is an Indian actor and singer who predominantly appears in Manipuri films. He is famous for movies 'Yaiskul Pakhang Angaoba', 'Beragee Bomb', 'Mr Khadang'. 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.
Tomthin Shija is a 2017 Indian Meitei language film directed by Bobby Haobam, written by Binoranjan Oinam and produced by Geeta Konsam. The film features Maya Choudhury and Amar Mayanglambam in the titular roles. It was released on 23 September 2017 at MSFDS, Palace Compound, Imphal and Indrani Hall, Kakching. The movie was also premiered at Hindu College Auditorium, North Campus, University of Delhi, on 14 October 2017.
Mr. Khadang: Animals are Human is a 2017 Indian Meitei language film directed by Chou En Lai and produced by Laishram Premila, under the banner of Anouba Maikei Productions. It stars Gurumayum Bonny in the title role. Mr. Khadang won the Best Feature Film Award at the 7th SSS MANIFA 2018. It was released at Range Ground, Yaiskul on 1 October 2017. It was also premiered at Shankar Lal Auditorium, North Campus, University of Delhi, on 20 August 2017.
Enakta Leiringei is a 2017 Indian Meitei language film directed by Manoranjan Longjam. It stars Kaiku Rajkumar and Soma Laishram in the lead roles. Enakta Leiringei got Best Feature Film award at the 11th Manipur State Film Awards 2018. It was released at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Palace Compound, on 28 October 2017. It had its regular theatrical screenings at Usha Cinema, Paona Bazar in July 2018.
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.
Aliyah is a 2018 Indian Meitei language film directed by Yoimayai Mongsaba, written by Binoranjan Oinam and produced by Reshi Thokchom. The film features Artina Thoudam in the title role and Gurumayum Bonny in the lead roles. The film was released on 19 August 2018 at MSFDS, Palace Compound, Imphal.
Pandam Amada is a 2019 Indian Meitei language film directed by O. Gautam and produced by Sarokons. It stars Bonney Takhelmayum and Archana Konsam in the lead roles. The film was premiered at MSFDS on 8 September 2019. It was world premiered at the 18th International Dhaka Film Festival held at Dhaka, Bangladesh from 11 to 19 January 2020. Pandam Amada was selected among 15 films screened in the Children's Film Section of the festival.
Eikhoishibu Kanano is a 2020 Indian Meitei language film directed by Ajit Yumnam and produced by Brojen Yumnam. It is a movie on Indo-Myanmar border dispute. The film was premiered at the Jaipur International Film Festival 2020. It was also selected for the 8th Delhi International Film Festival 2020 and the India International Film Festival 2020, Pune. Eikhoishibu Kanano won the Best Film at 10th Dada Shaheb Phalke Film Award 2020 and also Best Film - Debut and two other awards at 13th Manipur State Film Awards 2020. It also won nine awards, including Best Film and Best Director at the 9th MANIFA 2020. It got official selection at the 8th Indian Cine Film Festival, 2020.
Ei Actor Natte is a 2019 romantic Indian Meitei language film directed by Homen D' Wai and produced by Rodhika Heingang. It stars Shilheiba Ningthoujam and Biju Ningombam in the lead roles. The movie won the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Special Jury Mention Awards at the 13th Manipur State Film Awards 2020. It also won two awards at the 9th MANIFA 2020.
Inamma is a 2019 Indian Meitei language film directed by Homeshwori and produced by Takhellambam Chandrakumar, under the banner of Home Films. The movie stars Bala Hijam in the title role. The other leading actors in the movie are Gokul Athokpam, Gurumayum Bonny, Devita Urikhinbam, Shilheiba Ningthoujam and Biju Ningombam. It was premiered at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), Imphal on 14 September 2019.
Ichadi Manini is a 2019 Indian Meitei language film directed by Geet Yumnam and produced by Ningthoujam Malakumari. It stars Amar Mayanglambam and Bala Hijam in the lead roles. The movie won the Special Jury and Best Actor in a Leading Role - Male Awards at the 13th Manipur State Film Awards 2020. The film was released at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), Palace Compound, Imphal on 28 July 2019.
Oinam Gautam Singh is an Indian film director and editor who works in Manipuri films. He started his career in Manipuri cinema as an editor and later took up direction since more than a decade. One of the successful filmmakers in Manipuri Cinema, he is the recipient of many awards, including a National Film Award for his 2011 movie Phijigee Mani. Gautam has worked under eminent film personalities like Aribam Syam Sharma and Oken Amakcham. He had been a Jury Member of Indian Panorama for 45th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2014.
Aronba Wari is a 2020 Indian Meitei language film directed by OC Meira and produced by Rajkumari Nalini Devi, under the banner of Seuti Films. It stars Shilheiba 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.
Saklon Amada is a 2010 Indian Meitei language film directed by L. Surjakanta and produced by Guruaribam John Sharma. The movie is a production of Narayan Sharma Films. Produced with a vision of women empowerment, the film stars Kaiku Rajkumar, Maya Choudhury, Thingom Pritam and Daisy Kh. in the lead roles. The movie was premiered at Shankar Talkies, Lamphel in February 2010. It was later released at Pratap Talkies, Paona Bazar and many other theatres of Manipur.
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.
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".
