Meitei cinema
| Meitei cinema Maniwood | |
|---|---|
 An illustration of the Maniwood clapperboard | |
| Main distributors |
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| Produced feature films | |
| Total | 60-70 |
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. It won the President's Medal (Rashtriya Chalchitra Purashkar) at the 20th National Film Awards, 1972.
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.
Ishanou (Meitei for 'The Chosen One') (1990) was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, 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.
Keibu Keioiba (Meitei for 'Tiger-Head') (2009) is the first animation film in Meitei language as well as in the cinema of Manipur.
Oneness (Meitei: Amata Oina) (2023) is the first film in the Meitei language and Manipuri cinema to deal with same-sex relationships.
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.
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.
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).
History
Era of celluloid classic feature films (1972-1989)
| 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 | |
| 1973 | ꯕ꯭ꯔꯣꯖꯦꯟꯗ꯭ꯔꯣ ꯒꯤ ꯂꯨꯍꯣꯡꯕ | Brojendra Gee Luhongba | S.N. Chand | S.N. Chand | Sajatia Pictures | 35mm Black and White | |
| 1974 | ꯂꯝꯖꯥ ꯄꯔꯁꯨꯔꯥꯝ | Lamja Parsuram | Aribam Syam Sharma | G. Narayan Sharma | N.S. Films | 35mm Black and White | |
| 1974 | ꯉꯛ-ꯏ-ꯀꯣ ꯅꯪꯁꯦ | Ngak-E-Ko Nangse | S.N. Chand | W. Basant Kumar | Poonam Films | 35mm Black and White | |
| 1976 | ꯁꯥꯐꯕꯤ | Shaphabee | Aribam Syam Sharma | G. Narayan Sharma | N.S. Films | 35mm Black and White | |
| 1979 | ꯈꯨꯊꯥꯡ ꯂꯝꯖꯦꯜ | Khuthang Lamjel | G.C. Tongbra | Th. Haridas | A.T. Films | 35mm Black and White (some parts were colour) | |
| 1979 | ꯑꯣꯂꯥꯡꯊꯥꯒꯤ ꯋꯥꯡꯃꯗꯁꯨ | Olangthagee Wangmadasoo | Aribam Syam Sharma | G. Narayan Sharma | N.S. Films | 35mm Black and White | |
| 1981 | ꯏꯃꯥꯒꯤ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯦꯝ | Imagee Ningthem | Aribam Syam Sharma | K. Ibohal Sharma | X-Cine Productions | 16mm Converted to 35mm blowup (Black and White) | |
| 1981 | ꯈꯣꯟꯖꯦꯜ | Khonjel | M.Nilamani | M.Nilamani | Anjana Films | 35mm Black and White | |
| 1981 | ꯋꯥꯡꯃ ꯋꯥꯡꯃ | Wangma Wangma | L. Banka Sharma | L. Shyamsundar | Eastern Star Films | 35mm Black and White | |
| 1983 | ꯁꯅꯥꯀꯩꯊꯦꯜ | Sanakeithel | M.A. Singh | Doren Thoudam | A.T.B. Films International (India) | 35mm Black and White | |
| 1984 | ꯂꯥꯡꯂꯦꯟ ꯊꯥꯗꯣꯏ | Langlen Thadoi | M.A. Singh | Kh. Shakhi Devi | Kay Pee Films International (India) | 16mm Convert-ed to 35mm blowup (Colour) | |
| 1984 | ꯌꯥꯏꯔꯤꯄꯣꯛ ꯊꯝꯕꯥꯜꯅꯨ | Yairipok Thambalnu | L. Banka Sharma | H. Gehendra | Liberty Films | 35mm Black and White | |
| 1987 | ꯏꯆꯦ ꯁꯈꯤ | Eche Shakhi | Doren Thoudam & H. Ibotombi | Doren Thoudam | A.T.B. Films International (India) | 16mm Converted to 35mm blowup Colour | |
| 1989 | ꯀꯣꯝꯕꯤꯔꯩ | Kombirei | G. Narayan Sharma | G. Narayan Sharma | N.S. Films | 35mm Colour |
Cast and crew
Actors
- Oken Amakcham
- Gokul Athokpam
- Gurumayum Bonny
- Shougrakpam Hemanta
- Kaiku Rajkumar
- Priyakanta Laishram
- Makhonmani Mongsaba
- Lairenjam Olen
- Hamom Sadananda
- Bijou Thaangjam
- Chinglen Thiyam
- Bonium Thokchom
- Kangabam Tomba
Actresses
- Maya Choudhury
- Leishangthem Tonthoingambi
- Abenao Elangbam
- Bala Hijam
- Lin Laishram
- Soma Laishram
- Manda Leima
- Sushmita Mangsatabam
- Biju Ningombam
- Kshetrimayum Rashi
- Yengkhom Roma
- Kamala Saikhom
- Huirem Seema
- Tara
Directors
- Oken Amakcham
- Homen D' Wai
- Oinam Gautam Singh
- Romi Meitei
- Makhonmani Mongsaba
- Haobam Paban Kumar
- Aribam Syam Sharma
- Bobby Wahengbam
- Priyakanta Laishram
Awards
National Film Awards
Bilingualism
Many Meitei language films have been made with other languages simultaneously.
Meitei and English
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Fried Fish, Chicken Soup and a Premiere Show | Mamta Murthy | |
| 2013 | Manipuri Pony (film) | Aribam Syam Sharma | |
| 2018 | Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup? | Priyakanta Laishram | |
| 2023 | Oneness (film) | Priyakanta Laishram |
Meitei and Japanese
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | My Japanese Niece | Mohen Naorem |
Meitei and Portuguese
| Year | Meitei Title | Portuguese Title | Director(s) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Nura Pakhang | Eu e Tu | Romi Meitei |
Meitei and Tamil
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Language of War | R.V. Ramani |
Meitei and Tangkhul
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Nine Hills One Valley | Haobam Paban Kumar |