Ishanou is a 1990 Indian Meitei language film written by M. K. Binodini Devi and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. The movie stars Anoubam Kiranmala and Kangabam Tomba in the lead roles. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. In 2023, it was recognised as a "World Classic" by the Cannes Film Festival 2023 and it was the only film selected from India for the event for that year. The movie was first aired in Doordarshan and later released in Usha Cinema, Paona Bazar on 6 July 1990.
Phijigee Mani is a 2011 Indian Meitei language film directed by O. Gautam, co-written and produced by Takhelchangbam Ongbi Medha Sharmi, under the banner of Radha Govind Films. It stars an ensemble cast including Gurumayum Bonny, Abenao Elangbam and Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri and Best Supporting Actress awards at the 59th National Film Awards. Phijigee Mani was also selected for Indian Panorama of 42nd International Film Festival of India 2011.
Olangthagee Wangmadasoo is a 1980 Indian Meitei language film written by M. K. Binodini Devi, produced by G. Narayan Sharma and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. The film features Kangabam Tomba, Yengkhom Roma and Kshetrimayum Rashi in the lead roles. The movie was censored in 1979 and released at Friends Talkies, Paona Bazar on 18 January 1980. It was the first ever and the only Manipuri film to run for more than 30 weeks, till date. The film ran for 32 weeks at the box office.
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.
Yenning Amadi Likla is a 2007 Indian Meitei language film directed by Makhonmani Mongsaba and produced by SURVI, under the banner of Nongin Films. It stars Muru Ningthoujam, Huirem Seema, Lairenjam Olen and Reshmi Samom in the lead roles. The story of the film was written by Moirangthem Inao. The film was made in 16 mm and blown up in 35 mm. It was processed at Prasad Laboratory, Chennai.
Matamgi Manipur is a 1972 Indian Meitei language film and the first full-length cinema of Manipur. The movie is directed by Debkumar Bose and produced by Karam Monomohan, under the banner of K.T. Films Private Limited. The black and white film features Gurumayum Ravindra Sharma and Yengkhom Roma in the lead roles. Arambam Samarendra wrote the story and screenplay by Debkumar Bose. The film won the President's Medal at the 20th National Film Awards. It is an adaptation of Arambam Samarendra's theatrical play Tīrtha Yātrā.
Nangna Kappa Pakchade is a 2013 Indian Meitei language film directed by Makhonmani Mongsaba and produced by Thoungamba Thouyangba, under the banner of P.K. Films. The film features Leishangthem Tonthoi and Denny Likmabam in the lead roles. The story of the film was written by Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi. The film got selection at the 3rd Delhi International Film Festival 2014. The film was screened at Gorky Sadan Hall, Kolkata on 8 March 2014 on the occasion of International Women's Day. It also got selection at Ladakh International Film Festival 2014 in the Indian Feature section. The movie was screened in the competition section of the Kinshasa International Film Festival (KIFF) 2017, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Imagi Ningthem is a 1981 Indian Meitei language film directed by Aribam Syam Sharma and written by M. K. Binodini Devi. It won the Golden Montgolfiere at the Festival des 3 Continents, Nantes in 1982. The film was also screened at many International Film Festivals, which include Denver International Film Festival, London Film Festival, Locarno International Film Festival, Montreal International Film Festival and International Film Festival of India. It won two awards at the 29th National Film Awards.
Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi was a writer from the Northeastern Indian state of Manipur. She wrote in Meiteilon under the mononym Binodini. She was best known for her 1976 historical novel Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi, which won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1979. Its English translation, ThePrincess and the Political Agent, was published as a Penguin Modern Classic in 2020 by Penguin Random House India.
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.
Chatledo Eidi is a 2000 Indian Meitei language film directed and produced by Makhonmani Mongsaba under the banner of Sangai Films. It is based on the famous radio play Chatledo Eidi Meigee Ching Puduna by Moirangthem Inao. The film was selected for Indian Panorama of the 32nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2001. The movie won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 48th National Film Awards.
Magi Matambakta is a 2018 Indian Meitei language film directed by Makhonmani Mongsaba and produced by Sunita Kapoor. The movie was selected for Bengaluru International Film Festival 2018; Third Eye Asian Film Festival, Mumbai, 2020 and Delhi International Film Festival 2020. The film won the Best Manipuri Film at the 2nd Jharkhand International Film Festival Awards (JIFFA) 2019.
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 Indian Meitei language 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 is 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.
Sanakeithel is a 1983 Indian Meitei language film directed by Maibam Amuthoi Singh and produced by Thoudam Doren, under the banner of ATB Films International. The movie stars A. Memi and Master Tony in the lead roles. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 31st National Film Awards.
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, Tellanga Mamei, Nungshithel are some of his notable films. He had been a jury member of 58th National Film Awards.
Moirangthem Inao is a noted Indian playwright, lyricist, producer and director from Imphal, Manipur. He has scripted around 90 plays and most of them are popular radio plays aired on All India Radio, Imphal. Inao has also directed famous Manipuri movies like Nongallabasu Thaballei Manam and Laang. The dialogues from his radio plays have a unique charm and are famous among the radio play lovers of Manipur.
Tillaikhombee is a 2010 Indian Meitei language film directed by Khwairakpam Bishwamittra and produced by Jiri Budha under the banner of Ningshing Mami Production, Jiribam. It stars Raju Nong, Huirem Seema, Nillachandra and Sonia Hijam in the lead roles. The movie was premiered as a press show at Cinema Paradiso, Thangal Bazar on 9 April 2010. It was later released at Pratap Talkies, Paona Bazar and many other theatres of Manipur in 2010.
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".
