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.
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) 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.
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.
2024 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.
Imoinu is a 2015 Manipuri film directed by Bijgupta Laishram and produced by Tarunkumar Heisnam, under the banner of Heisnam Brothers Films and presented by Shrabankumar. The film features Gokul Athokpam, Sonia Samjetsabam and Sonia Hijam in the lead roles. Imoinu was released at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), Imphal, on 30 October 2015. The film was also screened at different theatres of Manipur, including Pratap Talkies, Imphal in January 2016, and it was well received by the audiences.
Tomthin Shija is a 2017 Manipuri 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.
Pandam Amada is a 2019 Manipuri 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.
Fried Fish, Chicken Soup and a Premiere Show is a 2011 documentary, Indian Meitei-English bilingual film directed by Mamta Murthy and produced by Madhusree Dutta. It is presented by Majlis. The movie won the National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film at the 59th National Film Awards. It had participated in many international film festivals like South Asian International Film Festival, New York; CPH:DOX Copenhagen and Asiatica Film Mediale, Rome.
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.
Saklon Amada is a 2010 Manipuri 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.
Bishesh Huirem is an Indian actress and model from the Meitei ethnicity of Manipur. She is best known for being the first Indian to represent India at the Miss International Queen for Transgender 2016 organised in Pattaya, Thailand. She is the first Indian transgender to be appointed as a state icon for the parliamentary polls in the Lok Sabha elections. She is the first transgender to win the "Best Actor Award" in the 14th Manipur State Film Awards, 2022. It's Not My Choice directed by Priyakanta Laishram and Apaiba Leichil directed by Bobby Wahengbam are some of her notable films.
Priyakanta Laishram is an Indian actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and film editor from the Meitei ethnicity of Imphal, Manipur who predominantly works in Manipuri films, known for his socially relevant and unconventional movies. He is the first filmmaker to make the first mainstream film of Manipur, Northeast India, dealing with same-sex relationships, Oneness (film). He started making children's films at the age of 9 by using a Nokia N70 mobile phone, for which he won several titles including The Youngest Filmmaker 2009 from Nokia and Manipur's Rising Star 2011 from Asian News International.
Oneness is a 2024 Manipuri movie directed by Priyakanta Laishram. It is the first gay-themed movie of Manipur, Northeast India. It is the first mainstream Manipuri movie to deal with same-sex relationships and sexual identity. The film stars Maya Choudhury, Priyakanta Laishram, Suraj Ngashepam and Sachinker Sagolsem in the lead roles. It is produced by Roushil Singla and Priyakanta Laishram under the banner Priyakanta Productions.
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".
The Foul Truth is a 2019 Manipuri film written, produced and directed by Priyakanta Laishram under the production banner, Priyakanta Productions. It is the first film from Northeast India to tackle the issue of male rape. The film tells the story of a boy named Thoithoiba, who is a survivor of child sexual abuse and male rape. The film stars Priyakanta Laishram, Harry Tourangbam and Rojesh Saikhom. The film was released on 2 June 2019. The film was screened at 33 international film festivals and won several awards, including Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Film on Other Social Issues, and Best Screenplay awards.
Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup? is a 2018 English-Manipuri film written, produced and directed by Priyakanta Laishram under the banner, Priyakanta Productions. It is the first Indian film to discuss the subject of men's makeup and gender-neutral fashion. The film stars Laishram, Inder Bajwa, Thounaojam Strela Luwang, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwahlia and Bala Hijam. At the Lifestyle Young Influencer Awards 2018, the film won the Best Multimedia Influencer Award. The film was premiered at St. Regis, Mumbai on 7 April 2018.
It's Not My Choice is a 2015 Manipuri film written and directed by Priyakanta Laishram and produced by Harendra Laishram under the banner of Priyakanta Productions. Starring Bishesh Huirem, Ithoi Oinam, and Chakpram Idhou, the film tells the story of a young transgender Sanathoi who is deprived of her basic rights. The film was released on 1 September 2015, in Imphal at the Regional Institute Of Medical Sciences and screened at 25 film festivals. The film is the first Indian short film to be adapted in Thai and the first short film from Northeast India to surpass 1 lakh views and 1 million views on YouTube.
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.
