Meetei Mayek
This article contains the Meitei alphabet. Without proper rendering support, you may see errors in display.
This article or section is being created, or is in the process of extensive expansion or major restructuring. You are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it as well. If this article or section has not been edited in several days, please remove this template.If you are the editor who added this template and you are actively editing, please be sure to replace this template with ((in use)) during the active editing session. Click on the link for template parameters to use. This article was last edited by SilverLocust (talk | contribs) 24 hours ago. (Update timer)
Meitei cinema
Maniwood
An illustration of the Maniwood clapperboard
Main distributors
  • Film Forum Manipur (FFM)
  • Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS)
Produced feature films
Total60-70[1][2]

Meitei cinema (Meitei: Meitei Mami Kumhei), also known as Maniwood (Meitei: Manipuri Mami Kumhei), 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 edition).[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 honour 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 recognised 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]

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.[15]

Aribam Syam Sharma, a renowned director of Meitei cinema, is of the opinion that Maniwood reflects the way of living and thinking of the Manipuris and there is no better way to express themselves than it (Meitei cinema).[16]

History

Era of celluloid classic feature films (1972-1989)

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2023)
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 [17][18]
1973 ꯕ꯭ꯔꯣꯖꯦꯟꯗ꯭ꯔꯣ ꯒꯤ ꯂꯨꯍꯣꯡꯕ Brojendra Gee Luhongba S.N. Chand S.N. Chand Sajatia Pictures 35mm Black and White [17][18]
1974 ꯂꯝꯖꯥ ꯄꯔꯁꯨꯔꯥꯝ Lamja Parsuram Aribam Syam Sharma G. Narayan Sharma N.S. Films 35mm Black and White [17][18]
1974 ꯉꯛ-ꯏ-ꯀꯣ ꯅꯪꯁꯦ Ngak-E-Ko Nangse S.N. Chand W. Basant Kumar Poonam Films 35mm Black and White [17][18]
1976 ꯁꯥꯐꯕꯤ Shaphabee Aribam Syam Sharma G. Narayan Sharma N.S. Films 35mm Black and White [17][18]
1979 ꯈꯨꯊꯥꯡ ꯂꯝꯖꯦꯜ Khuthang Lamjel G.C. Tongbra Th. Haridas A.T. Films 35mm Black and White (some parts were colour) [17][18]
1979 ꯑꯣꯂꯥꯡꯊꯥꯒꯤ ꯋꯥꯡꯃꯗꯁꯨ Olangthagee Wangmadasoo Aribam Syam Sharma G. Narayan Sharma N.S. Films 35mm Black and White [17][18]
1981 ꯏꯃꯥꯒꯤ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯦꯝ Imagee Ningthem Aribam Syam Sharma K. Ibohal Sharma X-Cine Productions 16mm Converted to 35mm blowup (Black and White) [17][18]
1981 ꯈꯣꯟꯖꯦꯜ Khonjel M.Nilamani M.Nilamani Anjana Films 35mm Black and White [17][18]
1981 ꯋꯥꯡꯃ ꯋꯥꯡꯃ Wangma Wangma L. Banka Sharma L. Shyamsundar Eastern Star Films 35mm Black and White [17][18]
1983 ꯁꯅꯥꯀꯩꯊꯦꯜ Sanakeithel M.A. Singh Doren Thoudam A.T.B. Films International (India) 35mm Black and White [17][18]
1984 ꯂꯥꯡꯂꯦꯟ ꯊꯥꯗꯣꯏ Langlen Thadoi M.A. Singh Kh. Shakhi Devi Kay Pee Films International (India) 16mm Convert-ed to 35mm blowup (Colour) [17][18]
1984 ꯌꯥꯏꯔꯤꯄꯣꯛ ꯊꯝꯕꯥꯜꯅꯨ Yairipok Thambalnu L. Banka Sharma H. Gehendra Liberty Films 35mm Black and White [17][18]
1987 ꯏꯆꯦ ꯁꯈꯤ Eche Shakhi Doren Thoudam & H. Ibotombi Doren Thoudam A.T.B. Films International (India) 16mm Converted to 35mm blowup Colour [17][18]
1989 ꯀꯣꯝꯕꯤꯔꯩ Kombirei G. Narayan Sharma G. Narayan Sharma N.S. Films 35mm Colour [17][18]

Cast and crew

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (July 2023)

Actors

Actresses

Directors

Awards

National Film Awards

Main article: National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Meitei

Bilingualism

Many Meitei language films have been made with other languages simultaneously.

Meitei and English

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (July 2023)
Year Title Director(s) Ref
2011 Fried Fish, Chicken Soup and a Premiere Show Mamta Murthy [19]
2013 Manipuri Pony (film) Aribam Syam Sharma
2023 Oneness (film) Priyakanta Laishram [20]

Meitei and Japanese

Year Title Director(s) Ref
2015 My Japanese Niece Mohen Naorem [21][22][23]

Meitei and Portuguese

Year Meitei Title Portuguese Title Director(s) Ref
2017 Nura Pakhang Eu e Tu Romi Meitei [24]

Meitei and Tamil

Year Title Director(s) Ref
1996 Language of War R.V. Ramani [25]

Meitei and Tangkhul

Year Title Director(s) Ref
2021 Nine Hills One Valley Haobam Paban Kumar [26]

Notable films

Main article: List of Meitei-language films

See also

References

  1. ^ "'Mary Kom' earns Rs 28.32 cr at box office in first weekend". Business Today. 2014-09-09. Retrieved 2023-07-31. ... 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. ...
  2. ^ Bag, Shamik (2015-10-10). "Being a movie buff in Imphal". mint. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  3. ^ "Matamgi Manipur on Moviebuff.com". Moviebuff.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  4. ^ "Manipuri cinema in the last three decades". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  5. ^ "Now Showing MATAMGI MANIPUR". www.e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  6. ^ "Digitised Imagi Ningthem screened at Pune film fest : 15th jan14 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  7. ^ "New book traces journey of Manipuri cinema". The Hindu. 2022-04-06. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  8. ^ "Festival de Cannes: The Chosen One". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Manipuri feature film 'ISHANOU' recognised as World Classic". The Economic Times. 2023-05-06. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  10. ^ "Aribam Syam Sharma's ISHANOU recognised as World Classic". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  11. ^ "Manipuri Film 'Ishanou' Becomes India's Only Restored Film To Be Screened At Cannes 2023". Outlook India.
  12. ^ Singh, Naorem Nishikanta (2013-11-07). "Bhumenjoy Konsam on the Chemistry of Making Keibu-Kei-Oiba – Part II | Manipur Times". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  13. ^ "Manipur fable from Shrek stable - Pune-based visual designer makes region's first animation film". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  14. ^ Singh, Naorem Nishikanta (2013-10-22). "Bhumenjoy Konsam on the Chemistry of Making Keibu-Kei-Oiba – Part I | Manipur Times". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  15. ^ Bag, Shamik (2015-10-10). "Being a movie buff in Imphal". mint. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  16. ^ Bag, Shamik (2015-10-10). "Being a movie buff in Imphal". mint. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "major film - E-rang Classic :: E-pao Movie Channel". e-pao.org. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Manipuri Feature Films 1972 1997 - E-rang Classic". Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  19. ^ "Top film festival with unique selection process|Bandra Film Festival". www.bandrafilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  20. ^ "A Manipur film tackles sexual identity for first time". The Indian Express. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  21. ^ "My Japanese Niece Movie Review (2015) - Rating, Cast & Crew With Synopsis". nettv4u. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  22. ^ Times, Manipur (2013-03-19). ""My Japanese Niece" – a masterpiece from Mohen Naorem | Manipur Times". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  23. ^ "100 Thai soldiers to act in Manipuri film 'My Japanese Niece' : 19th mar13 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  24. ^ "Clã gravam video no Porto com a cantora indiana Mangka". Força de Produção (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  25. ^ "Films by R. V. Ramani". Retrieved 2023-07-31. LANGUAGE OF WAR 50 minutes, Tamil/Manipuri, 1996. Photographed, Edited, Directed and Produced by R.V.Ramani
  26. ^ "Nine Hills, One Valley wins special mention award in NFDC's Film Bazaar Another feather in the cap for Paban Kumar". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Meitei cinema.
More
Cinema of India
World cinema
Categories