Best 8 Performances In Manipuri Cinema In The Last Decade
- A Decade of Breakthroughs in a System Resistant to Change -

Screen Echoes Manipur *

Best 8 Performances In Manipuri Cinema In The Last Decade

Manipuri cinema has always been rich with talent, especially among its actors, many of whom possess remarkable range, instinct, and screen presence. However, for years, that talent has remained largely unexplored and underutilised—not because of a lack of potential, but due to an industry culture dominated by unprogressive, unresearched, and surface-level writing.

The mainstream Manipuri film industry, still led by old-school directors and writers, has long been caught in repetitive narrative tropes. Characters are too often written as one-dimensional figures, built to serve melodrama or morality tales rather than reflect the layered realities of human lives.

Consequently, actors are routinely typecast, boxed into familiar roles that offer little opportunity to challenge themselves or evolve. In such a creatively constrained environment, performances with real emotional complexity, psychological depth, and social nuance are rare. But over the past decade, a subtle yet powerful shift has begun.

A small but significant group of filmmakers — and the brave actors who work with them—have chosen to break away from formulaic cinema. They are exploring more grounded, socially resonant narratives, giving space for performances that reflect inner turmoil, cultural conflict, identity, grief, and resilience.

Presented in no particular order, here are the 8 best performances in Manipuri cinema from 2015 to 2025. These artists didn’t just act—they resisted the limitations of the system and redefined what is possible within it.

K.Bishwamitta as Ahanjao in Taibang Keithel

o Khwairakpam Bishwamittra as Ahanjao in Taibang Keithel (dir. Satyajit BK)

Khwairakpam Bishwamittra brings both humour and poignancy to his portrayal of Ahanjao, a village man navigating the chaos of urban life in Imphal. Caught in a string of unexpected events while searching for work, Ahanjao becomes a lens through which the film captures the confusion, disillusionment, and changing face of the capital city.

Bishwamittra’s grounded, instinctive performance adds charm and emotional weight to a character overwhelmed yet resilient, making it one of the most memorable roles in recent Manipuri cinema.

Priyakanta Laishram as Ivan Martin in ONENESS

o Priyakanta Laishram as Ivan Martin in ONENESS (dir. Priyakanta Laishram)

Priyakanta Laishram’s portrayal of Ivan Martin is among the most courageous and emotionally resonant performances in contemporary Indian queer cinema.

Based on a true story, ONENESS sees Laishram embody a young gay man navigating the trauma of rejection, identity suppression, and spiritual conflict. His acting is heartbreakingly subtle, avoiding clichés to present a portrayal grounded in restraint and emotional precision. It’s a performance that doesn't just confront taboo—it humanises it with empathy and quiet defiance.

Narmada Shougaijam as Sunita in Sunita

o Narmada Shougaijam as Sunita in Sunita (dir. Ajit Yumnam)

Narmada Shougaijam portrays Sunita, a visually impaired woman who overcomes social exclusion, marital betrayal, and motherhood with quiet strength and dignity. Studying among sighted peers and training in sports and music, Sunita's efforts are met with constant hardship.

When abandoned by her husband during pregnancy and falsely accused, she refuses to succumb to despair. Shougaijam’s restrained yet emotionally potent performance captures the spirit of a woman determined to raise her children alone and reclaim her agency—making Sunita one of the most resilient characters seen in Manipuri cinema.

Maya Choudhury as Anna Martin in ONENESS

o Maya Choudhury as Anna Martin in ONENESS (dir. Priyakanta Laishram)

Maya Choudhury delivers a layered and emotionally measured performance as Anna Martin, a devout mother grappling with her son’s sexuality. Initially caught between religious dogma and maternal love, Anna’s journey is one of painful introspection and awakening.

With quiet intensity, Choudhury brings to life a woman who not only learns to accept her queer son but also finds the courage to stand up for herself in a patriarchal world. As Anna reclaims her voice—fighting for her son’s dignity and her own long-suppressed dream career—Choudhury delivers a performance that is both emotionally nuanced and quietly revolutionary.

Tonthoi Leishangthem in Langdai Ama

o Tonthoi Leishangthem in Langdai Ama (dir. Binoranjan Oinam)

Tonthoi Leishangthem remains one of Manipuri cinema’s most consistent and gifted performers, and in Langdai Ama, she reminds us why. Tonthoi Leishangthem delivers a deeply affecting performance as Leima, a folk singer and mother caught between her passion for cultural preservation and the controlling demands of a patriarchal marriage.

As tensions escalate within her family, Leishangthem brings quiet strength and emotional depth to a woman silenced by circumstance yet rooted in artistic conviction. Her portrayal resonates with resilience, making Leima not just a mother but a symbol of Manipuri tradition fighting to survive in a changing world.

Rewben Mashangva as Joseph in Joseph’s Son

o Rewben Mashangva as Joseph in Joseph’s Son (dir. Haobam Paban Kumar)

Folk music legend Rewben Mashangva made an unforgettable entry into cinema with his haunting portrayal of Joseph, a father mourning his son. In Joseph’s Son, Mashangva delivers a deeply internalised performance—minimal in dialogue but rich in emotional weight. As a non-professional actor, his authenticity transcends technique.

Every pause, every glance, carries the burden of loss, making Joseph’s grief feel devastatingly real. It’s a landmark debut that proves raw human truth can outshine even the finest technical training.

Bala Hijam as Mandakini in Boong

o Bala Hijam as Mandakini in Boong (dir. Lakshmipriya Devi)

Bala Hijam delivers a layered performance as Mandakini, a mother coping with her husband’s sudden disappearance while raising her son alone. Balancing emotional restraint with gentle humour, Hijam portrays a woman who masks her pain with resilience and warmth.

Her presence adds both heart and levity to a story driven by childhood hope, anchoring the narrative with a performance that is tender, quietly witty, and deeply human. Even in her silences, Hijam conveys an ocean of grief and unspoken longing. It’s a performance that lingers—subtle, strong, and quietly luminous.

Soma Laishram as Thoinu in Enakta Leiringei

o Soma Laishram as Thoinu in Enakta Leiringei (dir. Manoranjan Longjam)

Soma Laishram brings warmth and spark to the role of Thoinu, a loud and high-spirited young woman whose impulsive journey to meet her boyfriend unexpectedly leads her to true love with a stranger. Through a bumpy ride filled with shared experiences, Thoinu gradually learns the deeper nuances of love, care, and emotional openness.

Laishram’s lively yet grounded performance captures this transformation with charm and sincerity, making Thoinu’s arc both relatable and memorable.

In a film industry that has long failed to give actors the space to fully explore the range of human complexity, these eight performances stand out not just for their technical brilliance but for their courage to go deeper. These actors broke out of typecast moulds, stepped beyond the confines of underdeveloped characters, and delivered portrayals that are emotionally resonant and socially significant.

As Manipuri cinema steps cautiously into a more progressive era, these performances serve as reminders that the talent has always been there—waiting, ready, and deserving of better stories. The future of Manipuri cinema lies in the hands of those who choose not just to entertain, but to humanise.

Curated By:
Screen Echoes Manipur
(A collective of film researchers, media scholars and emerging journalists dedicated to exploring and documenting Manipuri cinema.)