Ashangbam Minaketan Singh is regarded as the founder of Modern Meitei literature. He was born as the only child to Ashangbam Jivan Singh and Medhabati Devi on 2 May 1906. His grandfather Ashang Kut, also known as Ashangbam Phura Hongba, served as a soldier in The Maharaja of Manipur's army. In March 1891 he played a part in the assassination of British officials and was thereby sentenced for transportation on charge of murder. He was sentenced twenty five years of life imprisonment at Kalapani Jail, which is now located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
Elam Endira Devi, is an Indian classical dancer and teacher, known for her expertise and scholarship in the classical dance form of Manipuri, especially in the genres of Lai Haraoba and Raas. The Government of India honored her, in 2014, with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for her services to the field of art and culture.
Khangembam Mangi Singh, popularly known as Guru Pena Mangi, was an Indian musician, known for his expertise on the Manipuri traditional musical instrument Pena. The Government of India honored him in 2011, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri.
Elangbam Nilakanta Singh (1927-2000) was an Indian poet and critic, considered by many as one of the pioneers of modern Meitei literature. A recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1987, Nilakanta Singh was honored by the Government of India, in 2000, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.
Gitchandra Tongbra, popularly known as G. C. Tongbra, was an Indian satirist, poet, playwright and art academic from Imphal. Born on 6 February 1913 in the Indian state of Manipur, Tongbra was known for his socio-realistic plays such as Mani Manou (1962), Matric Pass (1964) and Upu Baksi (1972).
Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra Singh was an Indian writer, lexicographer and historian, known as the author of Manipuri to Manipuri and English, the first modern general dictionary in Meitei language, which was published in 1964. He was a fellow of the Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1987.
Tabunungda Akaiba Likli is a 2013 Manipuri film directed by Romi Meitei and produced by Barun. It stars Gokul Athokpam, Abenao Elangbam, Hamom Sadananda and Artina Thoudam in the lead, with Deky, Dhanapriya, Priyogopal, and Modhubala portraying supporting roles. It is a love triangle film. The film was premiered at Manipur Film Development Corporation (MFDC) on 21 September 2013. It was also premiered at Dussehra Ground Mukherjee Nagar, New Delhi on 28 September 2013.
Rajkumar Kaiku is an Indian actor, who has appeared in Manipuri films. Kaiku made his film debut with the 2003 romantic film Kalpana. He has appeared in more than 400 Manipuri films. Some of his films are Ta-Tomba the Great, Nungshit Mapi, and Mami. In addition to films, he has also worked in Shumang Leela including Border.
The Cinema of Manipur is the film industry based in Manipur, India. It does not only include the Meitei language movies, but covers all the films made in different languages of the different communities residing in Manipur. The Manipuri film industry was born when Matamgi Manipur was released on 9 April 1972. Before this, there were many attempts to make a film in the state, the most significant being Mainu Pemcha in 1948 which was left incomplete due to various problems.
Lugongbagi Ahing is a 2011 Manipuri 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.
Yengkhom Roma is an Indian actress who predominantly appeared in Manipuri films. She is a resident of Imphal, Manipur, where she was born in 1945 to Yengkhom Birendra and Yengkhom Ongbi Mani. Besides acting, she has also directed a documentary film titled Jagoida Katthoklabi Suryamukhi Devi. She also worked as an assistant director in the film Ashangba Nongjabi.
Gurumayum Bonny 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 Shumang Leelas including Kunti series, Nongallamdaisida, Opium War, and Pizza.
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 Manipuri film directed by Yoimayai Mongsaba, written by Binoranjan Oinam and produced by Reshi Thokchom. The film features Artina Thoudam in the titular role and Gurumayum Bonny in the lead roles. The film was released on 19 August 2018 at MSFDS, Palace Compound, Imphal.
Eikhoishibu Kanano is a 2020 Manipuri 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.
Inamma is a 2019 Manipuri film directed by Homeshwori and produced by Takhellambam Chandrakumar, under the banner of Home Films. The movie stars Bala Hijam in the titular 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.
Kshetrimayum Rashi is an Indian actress from Imphal, Manipur, who worked in theatre and Manipuri films. She was introduced into the world of theatre by her mother Rasamani Devi. She is best known for her role in the movie Imagi Ningthem, which also received wide international acclaim. Rashi has featured in over 150 radio plays. She was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 13th Manipur State Film Awards 2020. She is also the recipient of the Sahitya Seva Samiti, Kakching Neta Irawat Leelaroi Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Chinglen Thiyam was a Shumang Leela artist, comedian, lyricist and director. 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.
Huirem Seema was an Indian actress from Imphal, Manipur. She had appeared in more than 100 Manipuri films. As a producer, she had four Manipuri digital films to her credit. She was best known for her roles in movies like Kanaga Hinghouni, Chang Shi Chang, Lakhipurgi Lakhipyari, Naoshum, Yumleima Lamleima and Thasi Thanou. Two films where she acted, namely Yenning Amadi Likla (feature) and Ngaihak Lambida (non-feature) made entries into the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India.
Lourembam Bino Devi is a practitioner and a popularizer of the appliqué art of Manipur called Leeba in the Meitei language. The Leeba art is used in creating Monmai which is a decorative circular appliqué art piece used in covering both ends of the traditional Manipuri bolster pillow. In the olden days, Leeba was practiced at "Phiribi Loishang", which is a house for maintaining clothes worn by the deities and royals. The apparels used by the royals, including shoes, were mostly designed using the Leeba technique. Bino Devi has devoted her life to practice this art form and to revive it by trying to transmit her skills to younger generation of interested women. She has been providing this training in collaboration with the Heritage Foundation of Mankind, a Non-Governmantal Organization located in Imphal. She has also conducted several workshops at Imphal and at various other places in India.
