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.
VDF Thasana is a 2014 Manipuri film written and directed by Homen D' Wai and produced by L. Momo Sharma, under the banner of Robin Color Picture. It stars Gurumayum Bonny as the titular protagonist with Leishangthem Tonthoi and Abenao Elangbam in the lead roles.
Gurumayum Bonny Sharma is an Indian actor and singer who predominantly appears in Manipuri films. 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.
Laman Ama is a 2018 Manipuri film directed by Sanad Aribam and produced by Rajeshwar Aribam, under the banner of Fast Forward Films. It stars Raju Nong, Saroja Devi Chongtham and Hemlet in the lead roles. It is a Manipuri thriller film. It is adapted from Randy Oliver's Angle of Deflection. The film was released at Manipur State Film Development Corporation (MSFDS), Imphal on 14 October 2018. The movie was selected in the 11th International Guwahati Film Festival 2018.
Enakta Leiringei is a 2017 Manipuri 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, screenwriter and lyricist who works in Manipuri films. He is a recipient of several awards at film festivals organized in India and abroad, including a National Film Award.
Lairenjam Olen is an Indian actor who predominantly appears in Manipuri films. He started as a Theatre Artist and was a member of Orient Drama Union, Imphal. His famous films include Dr. Yaima, Mittrang Keithel, Khongchat series, Radha-Rani, Lallasi Pal and Mr. Lakhipyari. He played double roles of Nganthoi and Thonba in the 2004 movie Icham Chamna.
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.
Shumang Kumhei, also known as Shumang Leela, is a Meitei traditional form of theatre, usually performed in Manipur, North East India. The theatre is arranged in the form of open air from four sides. The roles are all played by male actors, some dressed as beautiful ladies. The role of male characters are played by female artists in case of female theatre groups. This traditional theatre form was prevalent since the time of monarchical rule in Manipur. But the proper form of Shumang Leela had its inception in 1895 A.D.
Chaphu is a 2019 Manipuri film written and directed by Satyajit BK and produced by R.K. Bikramjit. It is a realistic thriller movie based on rituals, beliefs and black arts. The movie was premiered at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), Palace Compound, on 27 October 2019. It won the Best Actor in a Leading Role - Female, Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Male and Best Special Effect Awards at the 13th Manipur State Film Festival 2020.
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.
Shougrakpam Hemanta is an Indian comedian, actor, writer and director, who has worked in various Shumang Kumhei plays and Manipuri films. He is well known for his role of Oja Tolhan in Eegi Mahao and his portrayal of the title role in the movie Mantri Dolansana. In 2017, he was conferred with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in recognition of his contribution in the traditional Meitei theatre of the Shumang Kumhei. With this, he became the first person to receive the award for this art form.
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.
Aronba Wari is a 2020 Manipuri film directed by OC Meira and produced by Rajkumari Nalini Devi, under the banner of Seuti Films. It stars Silheiba 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.
Homen D' Wai was an Indian film director, scriptwriter and lyricist from Imphal, Manipur. Dr. Yaima, Mittrang Keithel, Yaiskulgee Pakhang Angaoba, Dr. Hemogee Heloi and VDF Thasana were some of the famous movies he directed.
Bangladeshki Sana Tampha is a 2020 multi-starrer Manipuri 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.
Eewai (English: The Ripple) is a 2022 non-feature Manipuri film directed by Khwairakpam Bishwamittra. It is produced by Samir Thingbaijam under the banner of Nongdol Mamikol. The film stars Leishangthem Tonthoi in the lead role. It was premiered at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Imphal on 26 June 2022. The film got official selections at the 4th Nepal Cultural International Film Festival 2022, Druk International Film Festival 2022 (Bhutan), Festivus Film Fest Canada 2022, Dadashaheb Phalke International Film Festival India 2023 and Gangtok International Film Festival 2022. It was screened at the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival in 'Short and Documentary Panorama section' on 19th and 21st December 2022 at Nandan-III and Sichir Mancha, Kolkata. The film was certified by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2022.Tonthoi won the Best Actor (Female) for her film Eewai at the Global Independent Film Festival of India, 2022 held on 30th November, 2022 at Rabindra Okakura Bhawan, Salt Lake, Kolkata, India and at Goa International Film Competition-GIFC and Best Actor (Female) NexGn Fest as the Finalist and Best Director Finalist Khwairakpam Bishwamittra at the NexGn Fest.
Fireflies is a 2018 Indian Meitei language documentary short film, directed by Johnson Rajkumar. It portrays the struggles of the Meira Paibis to protect the people from crimes in Manipur state, and the role of women in the conflicting and male-dominated society of Manipur. It looks at how the gender gap and gender identities are settled during times of conflict and violence in the society.
