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 (2024), Manipuri cinema, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, has grown in both its form and culture.
Lugongbagi Ahing is a 2011 Indian Meitei language film directed by Bijgupta Laishram and produced by T. Baruni Devi, under the banner of Baruni Films. The film features Gokul Athokpam, Bala Hijam and Ashok Seleibam in the lead roles. The film was released at Classic Hotel, Imphal on 3 June 2011. It is a 2011 blockbuster film.
Hamom Sadananda is an Indian actor and singer who predominantly appears in Manipuri films. He is a resident of Sega Road, Thouda Bhabok Leikai, Imphal, Manipur. He has acted in more than 100 Manipuri films. Besides acting and singing in films, he also performs Manipuri Sankirtana on various Manipur occasions.
Romi Meitei is an Indian film director, screenwriter and lyricist who works in Manipuri films. He is a recipient of several awards at several film festivals organized in India and abroad, including a National Film Award.
Meitan Araba is a 2019 Indian Meitei language film directed by Lukanand Kshetrimayum and written by Sen Sagolsem. The film features Brahmacharimayum Dishiraj and Avi Khundrakpam in the lead roles. The film was certified in 2018 and released on 6 January 2019 at MSFDS, Palace Compound, Imphal. The film earned 11 nominations at the 8th SSS MANIFA 2019, winning 7 awards including the Best Feature Film Award.
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.
Taibang Keithel is a 2018 comedy Indian Meitei language film written and directed by Satyajit BK and produced by Miltan Langonjam, under the banner of Soraren Films. It stars Khwairakpam Bishwamittra in the lead role. The movie was premiered at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Palace Compound, on 9 September 2018.
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.
Chinglen Thiyam was an actor, comedian, lyricist and director of Shumang Kumhei theatre in Manipur. He had acted in over 100 plays and directed around 20 plays. Thiyam had also acted in many Manipuri films. He was popularly known as Commando Chinglen from the Shumang Leela Thawaina Punshigidamak. Not only in digital films, but he had also acted in Manipuri celluloid movies. He was conferred with the Iboyaima Shumang Leela Award in 2020 for his profound contribution in Shumang Leela. Wari Loidri, Khomlang Laman, Thawaina Punshigidamak, Sanagi Nga, Keishamthong Thoibi were some of the famous plays where he acted.
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.
Bangladeshki Sana Tampha is a 2020 multi-starrer Indian Meitei language film directed by OC Meira and produced by Rakesh Naorem and Ibungohal Shyamal, under the banner of Ipak Films. Portraying the lifestyle of Meiteis in Bangladesh, the film stars Gurumayum Bonny, Abenao Elangbam, Bala Tensubam, Narmada Sougaijam, Gepelina Mayanglambam and Ashok Seleibam in the lead roles. The movie was released at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) on 25 January 2020.
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.
Larei Lathup is a 2021 Indian Meitei language film written and directed by Ojitbabu Ningthoujam. It stars Shilheiba Ningthoujam and Ithoi Oinam in the lead roles. The film was premiered at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) on 13 November 2021. It was the opening film (fiction) at the Festival of Cinemas of Manipur 2022, a 15-day long multi-lingual film festival organised by MSFDS in April 2022.
The Meitei language, or Manipuri language, is a minority language in Bangladesh. It is spoken by around 15,000 ethnic Manipuris, mainly concentrated in the Sylhet Division. The Meitei language is also a second language for Bishnupriyas in Bangladesh.
