Meitei cinema Maniwood | |
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Main distributors |
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Produced feature films | |
Total | 60-70 [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".
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) (2024) 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]
Year | Original Title (in Meitei script) | Romanization | Director | Producer | Banner | Format | Note(s)/Reference(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1972 | ꯃꯇꯝꯒꯤ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔ | Matamgee Manipur | Deb Kumar Bose | K. Manimohan | T.K. Films Private Ltd. | 35mm Black and White | [19] [20] |
1973 | ꯕ꯭ꯔꯣꯖꯦꯟꯗ꯭ꯔꯣ ꯒꯤ ꯂꯨꯍꯣꯡꯕ | Brojendra Gee Luhongba | S.N. Chand | S.N. Chand | Sajatia Pictures | 35mm Black and White | [19] [20] |
1974 | ꯂꯝꯖꯥ ꯄꯔꯁꯨꯔꯥꯝ | Lamja Parsuram | Aribam Syam Sharma | G. Narayan Sharma | N.S. Films | 35mm Black and White | [19] [20] |
1974 | ꯉꯛ-ꯏ-ꯀꯣ ꯅꯪꯁꯦ | Ngak-E-Ko Nangse | S.N. Chand | W. Basant Kumar | Poonam Films | 35mm Black and White | [19] [20] |
1976 | ꯁꯥꯐꯕꯤ | Shaphabee | Aribam Syam Sharma | G. Narayan Sharma | N.S. Films | 35mm Black and White | [19] [20] |
1979 | ꯈꯨꯊꯥꯡ ꯂꯝꯖꯦꯜ | Khuthang Lamjel | G.C. Tongbra | Th. Haridas | A.T. Films | 35mm Black and White (some parts were colour) | [19] [20] |
1979 | ꯑꯣꯂꯥꯡꯊꯥꯒꯤ ꯋꯥꯡꯃꯗꯁꯨ | Olangthagee Wangmadasoo | Aribam Syam Sharma | G. Narayan Sharma | N.S. Films | 35mm Black and White | [19] [20] |
1981 | ꯏꯃꯥꯒꯤ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯦꯝ | Imagee Ningthem | Aribam Syam Sharma | K. Ibohal Sharma | X-Cine Productions | 16mm Converted to 35mm blowup (Black and White) | [19] [20] |
1981 | ꯈꯣꯟꯖꯦꯜ | Khonjel | M.Nilamani | M.Nilamani | Anjana Films | 35mm Black and White | [19] [20] |
1981 | ꯋꯥꯡꯃ ꯋꯥꯡꯃ | Wangma Wangma | L. Banka Sharma | L. Shyamsundar | Eastern Star Films | 35mm Black and White | [19] [20] |
1983 | ꯁꯅꯥꯀꯩꯊꯦꯜ | Sanakeithel | M.A. Singh | Doren Thoudam | A.T.B. Films International (India) | 35mm Black and White | [19] [20] |
1984 | ꯂꯥꯡꯂꯦꯟ ꯊꯥꯗꯣꯏ | Langlen Thadoi | M.A. Singh | Kh. Shakhi Devi | Kay Pee Films International (India) | 16mm Convert-ed to 35mm blowup (Colour) | [19] [20] |
1984 | ꯌꯥꯏꯔꯤꯄꯣꯛ ꯊꯝꯕꯥꯜꯅꯨ | Yairipok Thambalnu | L. Banka Sharma | H. Gehendra | Liberty Films | 35mm Black and White | [19] [20] |
1987 | ꯏꯆꯦ ꯁꯈꯤ | Eche Shakhi | Doren Thoudam & H. Ibotombi | Doren Thoudam | A.T.B. Films International (India) | 16mm Converted to 35mm blowup Colour | [19] [20] |
1989 | ꯀꯣꯝꯕꯤꯔꯩ | Kombirei | G. Narayan Sharma | G. Narayan Sharma | N.S. Films | 35mm Colour | [19] [20] |
Many Meitei language films have been made with other languages simultaneously.
Year | Title | Director(s) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Fried Fish, Chicken Soup and a Premiere Show | Mamta Murthy | [21] |
2013 | Manipuri Pony (film) | Aribam Syam Sharma | |
2018 | Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup? | Priyakanta Laishram | [22] |
2024 | Oneness (film) | Priyakanta Laishram | [23] |
Year | Title | Director(s) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | My Japanese Niece | Mohen Naorem | [24] [25] [26] |
Year | Meitei Title | Portuguese Title | Director(s) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | Nura Pakhang | Eu e Tu | Romi Meitei | [27] |
Year | Title | Director(s) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Language of War | R.V. Ramani | [28] |
Year | Title | Director(s) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Nine Hills One Valley | Haobam Paban Kumar | [29] |
The Meitei people, Meetei, Manipuri people is an ethnic group native to Manipur. They are one of the Tai peoples in Northeast India. They form the largest and dominant ethnic group of Manipur in Northeast India. They speak the 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mayophygee Macha is a 1994 Indian Meitei language film written by M. K. Binodini Devi and directed by Oken Amakcham. R.S. Joycee and Makhonmani Mongsaba were cast in the lead roles. It is produced by Thoungamba and Thouyangba for P.K. Films. The movie won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 42nd National Film Awards. It is a celluloid movie.
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 title 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.
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.
Pabung Syam is a 2021 Indian Meitei language documentary film directed by Haobam Paban Kumar. It is produced by Films Division of India. The film was selected in the non-feature section of the Indian Panorama at the 52nd International Film Festival of India 2021. It won the Best Biographical Film award at the 68th National Film Awards.
Eikhoigi Yum is a 2021 Indian Meitei language film directed by Romi Meitei. It is jointly produced by Sheetal Chingsu and Romi Meitei under the banner of Thangarakpa Living Frames. The film got official selection at the 22nd Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2022. It was the opening film at the 1st Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival 2022.The film was certified by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2021. On IMDb, Eikhoigi Yum is ranked third among the top three Manipuri films, after Ishanou and Oneness (film). The film won National Film Award For Best Film In Meiteilon at the 69th National Film Awards.
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.
Oneness is a 2024 Manipuri movie directed by Priyakanta Laishram. It is the first gay-themed movie of Manipur, Northeast India and the first mainstream Manipuri movie to deal with same-sex relationships and sexual identity. The film stars Maya Choudhury, Priyakanta Laishram, Suraj Ngashepam and Sachinker Sagolsem in the lead roles. It is produced by Roushil Singla and Priyakanta Laishram under the banner Priyakanta Productions. The film made its world premiere at the KASHISH Pride Film Festival 2024, South Asia's largest queer film festival. Elle (India) ranked the film as one of the top eight, while Mid-Day ranked it as one of the ten films to see at KASHISH 2024. On IMDb, Oneness is ranked number two among the top three Manipuri movies.
... 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. ...
LANGUAGE OF WAR 50 minutes, Tamil/Manipuri, 1996. Photographed, Edited, Directed and Produced by R.V.Ramani