MSFDS to screen 'Ishanou' for public
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 12 2026: As a part of Seva Sankalp 2026, the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) is screening internationally acclaimed Manipuri feature film "Ishanou (The Chosen One)" for free at the Palace Auditorium, Imphal on October 16 .

The public screening will begin at 3.30 pm Friday.

The film is directed by Aribam Syam Sharma and written by Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi.

Released in 1991, Ishanou is regarded as an important work of Manipuri cinema, particularly for its portrayal of the distinctive Maibi tradition and cultural life of Manipur.

It became the first film from North East India to be officially selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes International Film Festival in 1992.The film also gained renewed international recognition when its digitally restored version had world premiere in the Cannes Classics section of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, bringing a landmark work of Manipuri cinema to a global audience.

The digitisation and restoration of Ishanou was undertaken through the efforts of MSFDS in collaboration with the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), Mumbai, and director Aribam Syam Sharma.

The restoration represents an important milestone in the continuing efforts to preserve Manipur's cinematic heritage and safeguard its films for future generations.

The public screening is intended not only to make this landmark work accessible to a wider audience but also to renew appreciation of Manipur's rich cinematic and cultural heritage, said the MSFDS, inviting members of the public to attend the screening for free.

The Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) is an autonomous undertaking under the Directorate of Art & Culture, Government of Manipur.

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