Meitei cinema

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Meitei cinema
Maniwood
Meitei Cinema - Maniwood Clapperboard.jpg
An illustration of the Maniwood clapperboard
Main distributors
  • Film Forum Manipur (FFM)
  • Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS)
Produced feature films
Total60-70 [1] [2]

Meitei cinema (Meitei : Meitei Mami Kumhei), also known as Maniwood, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Meitei language (officially called Manipuri language), widely spoken in the state of Manipur. The popular term Maniwood, is a portmanteau of "Manipuri" (official name of Meitei) and "Hollywood".

Contents

Matamgi Manipur ( Meitei for 'Today's Manipur') (1972) is the first Meitei-language film and also the first full-length cinema of Manipur. [3] [4] It won the President's Medal (Rashtriya Chalchitra Purashkar) at the 20th National Film Awards, 1972. [5]

Imagi Ningthem ( Meitei for ' My Son, My Precious ') (1981) is the only Indian film that gets the Golden Montgolfiere at the Festival des 3 Continents, Nantes in 1982, bringing fame and honor of the Indian cinema at the international platform. [6] [7]

Ishanou ( Meitei for ' The Chosen One ') (1990) was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, [8] and again after a gap of 33 years, it was recognized as a "World Classic" by the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Notably, it was the only film selected from India for the event in that year. [9] [10] [11]

Keibu Keioiba ( Meitei for ' Tiger-Head ') (2009) is the first animation film in Meitei language as well as in the cinema of Manipur. [12] [13] [14]

Oneness (Meitei: Amata Oina) (2023) is the first film in the Meitei language and Manipuri cinema to deal with same-sex relationships. [15]

The top three Manipuri films on IMDb as of 2023 are Ishanou, Oneness, and Eikhoigi Yum , all of which were produced in the Meitei language. [16]

Since 2012, in Maniwood cinematic culture, there has been a general guideline regarding the dress code shown in the films as “If you wear jeans thrice on screen, you have to wear Manipuri dresses four times.” Playing a crucial role in the Meitei linguistic purism movement, Meitei cinema frequently practices the use of proper Meitei language instead of any pidgin language. [17]

Aribam Syam Sharma, a renowned director of Meitei cinema, is of the opinion that Maniwood reflects the way of living and thinking of the Manipuri people and there is no better way to express themselves than it (Meitei cinema). [18]

History

Era of celluloid classic feature films (1972-1989)

YearOriginal Title
(in Meitei script)		 Romanization DirectorProducerBannerFormatNote(s)/Reference(s)
1972 ꯃꯇꯝꯒꯤ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔ Matamgee Manipur Deb Kumar BoseK. ManimohanT.K. Films Private Ltd.35mm Black and White [19] [20]
1973 ꯕ꯭ꯔꯣꯖꯦꯟꯗ꯭ꯔꯣ ꯒꯤ ꯂꯨꯍꯣꯡꯕ Brojendra Gee Luhongba S.N. ChandS.N. ChandSajatia Pictures35mm Black and White [19] [20]
1974 ꯂꯝꯖꯥ ꯄꯔꯁꯨꯔꯥꯝ Lamja Parsuram Aribam Syam SharmaG. Narayan SharmaN.S. Films35mm Black and White [19] [20]
1974ꯉꯛ-ꯏ-ꯀꯣ ꯅꯪꯁꯦNgak-E-Ko NangseS.N. ChandW. Basant KumarPoonam Films35mm Black and White [19] [20]
1976 ꯁꯥꯐꯕꯤ Shaphabee Aribam Syam SharmaG. Narayan SharmaN.S. Films35mm Black and White [19] [20]
1979ꯈꯨꯊꯥꯡ ꯂꯝꯖꯦꯜKhuthang LamjelG.C. TongbraTh. HaridasA.T. Films35mm Black and White (some parts were colour) [19] [20]
1979 ꯑꯣꯂꯥꯡꯊꯥꯒꯤ ꯋꯥꯡꯃꯗꯁꯨ Olangthagee Wangmadasoo Aribam Syam SharmaG. Narayan SharmaN.S. Films35mm Black and White [19] [20]
1981 ꯏꯃꯥꯒꯤ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯦꯝ Imagee Ningthem Aribam Syam SharmaK. Ibohal SharmaX-Cine Productions16mm Converted to 35mm blowup (Black and White) [19] [20]
1981ꯈꯣꯟꯖꯦꯜKhonjelM.NilamaniM.NilamaniAnjana Films35mm Black and White [19] [20]
1981ꯋꯥꯡꯃ ꯋꯥꯡꯃWangma WangmaL. Banka SharmaL. ShyamsundarEastern Star Films35mm Black and White [19] [20]
1983 ꯁꯅꯥꯀꯩꯊꯦꯜ Sanakeithel M.A. SinghDoren ThoudamA.T.B. Films International (India)35mm Black and White [19] [20]
1984ꯂꯥꯡꯂꯦꯟ ꯊꯥꯗꯣꯏLanglen ThadoiM.A. SinghKh. Shakhi DeviKay Pee Films International (India)16mm Convert-ed to 35mm blowup (Colour) [19] [20]
1984ꯌꯥꯏꯔꯤꯄꯣꯛ ꯊꯝꯕꯥꯜꯅꯨYairipok ThambalnuL. Banka SharmaH. GehendraLiberty Films35mm Black and White [19] [20]
1987ꯏꯆꯦ ꯁꯈꯤEche ShakhiDoren Thoudam & H. IbotombiDoren ThoudamA.T.B. Films International (India)16mm Converted to 35mm blowup Colour [19] [20]
1989 ꯀꯣꯝꯕꯤꯔꯩ Kombirei G. Narayan SharmaG. Narayan SharmaN.S. Films35mm Colour [19] [20]

Cast and crew

Actors

Actresses

Directors

Awards

National Film Awards

Bilingualism

Many Meitei language films have been made with other languages simultaneously.

Meitei and English

YearTitleDirector(s)Ref
2011 Fried Fish, Chicken Soup and a Premiere Show Mamta Murthy [21]
2013 Manipuri Pony (film) Aribam Syam Sharma
2023 Oneness (film) Priyakanta Laishram [22]

Meitei and Japanese

YearTitleDirector(s)Ref
2015 My Japanese Niece Mohen Naorem [23] [24] [25]

Meitei and Portuguese

YearMeitei TitlePortuguese TitleDirector(s)Ref
2017 Nura Pakhang Eu e Tu Romi Meitei [26]

Meitei and Tamil

YearTitleDirector(s)Ref
1996Language of WarR.V. Ramani [27]

Meitei and Tangkhul

YearTitleDirector(s)Ref
2021 Nine Hills One Valley Haobam Paban Kumar [28]

Notable films

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei people</span> Ethnic group of South Asia

The Meitei people, Meetei people, or Manipuri people is an ethnic group native to Manipur. They form the largest and dominant 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 Government of Manipur. The Meiteis primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, though a sizeable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. There is also a notable presence of Meitei people in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aribam Syam Sharma</span> Indian film director

Aribam Syam Sharma is an Indian filmmaker and composer from Manipur. He debuted in the first Manipuri film Matamgi Manipur as an actor. In 1974, he directed his first movie Lamja Parshuram. It became the first Manipuri film to run for 100 days in the box office. His 1979 film Olangthagee Wangmadasoo was the first ever and the only Manipuri film to run for 32 weeks. It also broke the local box office records of Sholay.

<i>Ishanou</i> 1990 Meitei film

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.

<i>Olangthagee Wangmadasoo</i> 1980 Indian film

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinema of Manipur</span> Indian filmmaking in Manipur

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.

<i>Matamgi Manipur</i> 1972 Indian film

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.

<i>Nangna Kappa Pakchade</i> 2013 Indian film

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. K. Binodini Devi</span> Indian novelist, short story writer, playwright, lyricist, and royal

Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi was an Indian novelist, short story writer, playwright, lyricist and member of the royal family of Manipur. She was the last princess of the erstwhile Kingdom of Manipur. She published books under the name Binodini. She was best known for her 1976 novel Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi.

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.

<i>Saaphabee</i> 1976 Indian film

Saaphabee is a 1976 Indian Meitei language film written by Sarangthem Bormani, produced by G. Narayan Sharma and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. The film features Kangabam Tomba and Ngangom (O) Subadani in the lead roles. It was released at Usha Cinema, Paona Bazar on 13 July 1976. The movie won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 24th National Film Awards. It is based on the famous Manipuri folk play Haorang Leishang Saaphabee. It is the first Manipuri folk film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oinam Gautam Singh</span> Indian film director

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.

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.

<i>Lamja Parshuram</i> 1974 Indian film

Lamja Parshuram is a 1974 Indian Meitei language film directed by Aribam Syam Sharma and produced by G. Narayan Sharma for N.S. Films. The script was written by Elangbam Dinamani Singh and story by G.C. Tongbra. The movie features Kangabam Tomba in the titular role, and Wahengbam Bedamani as the lead female protagonist. It was released on 24 April 1974 at Pratap Talkies, Paona Bazar. The film ran for more than 100 days and became the first Manipuri hit feature film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kangabam Tomba</span> Indian actor

Kangabam Tomba is an Indian actor from Imphal, Manipur. He started his career in theatre. His first appearance in movies is in Matamgi Manipur, the first Manipuri full-length feature film where he played a college guy. His is popularly known as Lamja Tomba for his titular role in the 1974 movie Lamja Parshuram. Tomba bagged the Best Actor Award at the 1st Manipur State Film Festival 1984 for the film. He was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 11th Manipur State Film Awards 2018.

<i>Manipuri Pony</i> (film) 2013 Indian film

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keibu Keioiba</span> Half man, half tiger of Meitei folklore

Keibu Keioiba, also known as Kabui Keioiba, is a mythical creature with the head of a tiger and the body of a human in the Meitei mythology and folklore of Manipur. He is often described as half man and half tiger.

<i>Keibu Keioiba</i> (film) 2009 Meitei language animation film

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Priyakanta Laishram</span> Indian actor, director

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 and unconventional movies. He is an openly queer 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. 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.

References

  1. ↑ "'Mary Kom' earns Rs 28.32 cr at box office in first weekend". Business Today. 2014-09-09. Retrieved 2023-07-31. ... Meanwhile, producers are trying to release the film in Kom's hometown, where around 60 to 70 films in Meitei language are made in a year. ...
  2. ↑ Bag, Shamik (2015-10-10). "Being a movie buff in Imphal". mint. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  3. ↑ "Matamgi Manipur on Moviebuff.com". Moviebuff.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  4. ↑ "Manipuri cinema in the last three decades". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  5. ↑ "Now Showing MATAMGI MANIPUR". www.e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  6. ↑ "Digitised Imagi Ningthem screened at Pune film fest : 15th jan14 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  7. ↑ "New book traces journey of Manipuri cinema". The Hindu. 2022-04-06. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  8. ↑ "Festival de Cannes: The Chosen One". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  9. ↑ "Manipuri feature film 'ISHANOU' recognised as World Classic". The Economic Times. 2023-05-06. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  10. ↑ "Aribam Syam Sharma's ISHANOU recognised as World Classic". Imphal Free Press . Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  11. ↑ "Manipuri Film 'Ishanou' Becomes India's Only Restored Film To Be Screened At Cannes 2023". Outlook India.
  12. ↑ Singh, Naorem Nishikanta (2013-11-07). "Bhumenjoy Konsam on the Chemistry of Making Keibu-Kei-Oiba – Part II | Manipur Times" . Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  13. ↑ "Manipur fable from Shrek stable - Pune-based visual designer makes region's first animation film". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  14. ↑ Singh, Naorem Nishikanta (2013-10-22). "Bhumenjoy Konsam on the Chemistry of Making Keibu-Kei-Oiba – Part I | Manipur Times" . Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  15. ↑ "Manipur's First Gay-Themed Movie – "Oneness" Project Gender Sensitivity Issues; Normalizing Queer Representations". Northeast Today. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  16. ↑ "Ishanou, Oneness, and Eikhoigi Yum become IMDb's top 3 Manipuri movies". East Mojo. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  17. ↑ Bag, Shamik (2015-10-10). "Being a movie buff in Imphal". mint. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  18. ↑ Bag, Shamik (2015-10-10). "Being a movie buff in Imphal". mint. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "major film - E-rang Classic :: E-pao Movie Channel". e-pao.org. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Manipuri Feature Films 1972 1997 - E-rang Classic" . Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  21. ↑ "Top film festival with unique selection process|Bandra Film Festival". www.bandrafilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  22. ↑ "A Manipur film tackles sexual identity for first time". The Indian Express. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "My Japanese Niece Movie Review (2015) - Rating, Cast & Crew With Synopsis". nettv4u. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  24. ↑ Times, Manipur (2013-03-19). ""My Japanese Niece" – a masterpiece from Mohen Naorem | Manipur Times" . Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  25. ↑ "100 Thai soldiers to act in Manipuri film 'My Japanese Niece' : 19th mar13 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  26. ↑ "Clã gravam video no Porto com a cantora indiana Mangka". Força de Produção (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  27. ↑ "Films by R. V. Ramani" . Retrieved 2023-07-31. LANGUAGE OF WAR 50 minutes, Tamil/Manipuri, 1996. Photographed, Edited, Directed and Produced by R.V.Ramani
  28. ↑ "Nine Hills, One Valley wins special mention award in NFDC's Film Bazaar Another feather in the cap for Paban Kumar". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
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