'Laangoi' adjudged best feature film, Dr A Lokendra honoured
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 26 2025:
The 17th edition of the Manipur State Film Awards (MSFA) 2025 celebrated the vitality of emerging storytellers and honoured the legacy of Manipuri cinema's pioneers, with debutant filmmakers dominating the fiction category and scholar Dr Arambam Lokendra receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Organised by the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), the annual awards recognised films produced in 2024, with nearly half of the fiction feature entries helmed by first-time directors.
The event marked a significant chapter in the state's cinematic journey, reflecting a growing diversity of themes and fresh perspectives in storytelling, according to a statement issued by MSFDS .
Laangoi, directed by Manoranjan Longjam, won the award for Best Feature Film, along with a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh.
A gritty police drama centred on a morally upright officer unravelling a nexus of corruption and drug trafficking, the film also earned Manoranjan the Best Director Award.
'Una Una', a romantic drama set against the scenic landscapes of Ukhrul and directed by debutant Irel Luwang, was named Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
The film stars Laishram Soma and newcomer Thokchom Joy, with Soma receiving a Special Jury Mention for her nuanced portrayal.
Priyakanta Laishram's 'Oneness' received the Special Jury Award for its bold and emotionally resonant narrative about a queer man confronting familial rejection and social prejudice.
The him, inspired by a true incident, was commended for its depth and courage.
The award for Best Debut Film of a Director went to Dinesh Naorem for 'Oitharei' (Help Me), a powerful story about a female survivor of Manipur's ongoing ethnic conflict.
In the non-fiction section, only two hlms were recognised.
'The Legacy of 4 Generations', a documentary on artist RKCS directed by Thiyam Debendra, won the Special Jury Award, while 'The Silent Performer', a short him by first-time filmmaker Huidrom Rakesh, received a Special Jury Mention.
In the Writing on Cinema category, the jury did not hnd a suitable entry for Best Book, but named Ashangbam Netrajit as Best Critic for his insightful contributions to discourse on Manipuri cinema.
The most prestigious honour of the evening - the MSFDS Lifetime Achievement Award - was conferred on Dr Arambam Lokendra, a cultural thinker and scholar noted for his sustained contribution to the growth and evolution of Manipuri cinema.
The award includes a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
His selection was made by a committee chaired by special commissioner (Art and Culture) M Joy Singh, and included senior filmmaker Oken Amakcham, art and culture director, and past awardee Ngangbam Swarnajit Singh.
MSFDS stated that the 17th MSFA stood out not only for the calibre of entries but also for the professionalism of its jury process.
The fiction category jury was chaired by national award-winning writer Dilip Mayengbam and included veteran actor and filmmaker RK Jnanranjan, dancer and actor Tayenjam Mema Devi, state film award winner K Bimol Sharma, national award-winning filmmaker and academic Natasha Elangbam, and award-winning sound recordist Th Ramakanta Singh.
The non-feature and documentary jury was headed by filmmaker Bobo Khuraijam, with filmmakers Doren Oinam and Shananda Phurailatpam, a state award-winning technician, serving as members.
Their expertise ensured rigorous evaluation of short films and documentaries.
For the Writing on Cinema section, the jury was chaired by Sahitya Akademi awardee Sharatchahd Thiyam, with actor and critic Narendra Ningombam and Swarna Kamal recipient Bobby Wahengbam serving as members.
Their understanding of the intersection between cinema, literature, and culture brought depth to the assessments, the MSFDS statement added.
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