EntertainmentPosted at: Nov 7 2025 8:56PM


Manipur makes triumphant comeback at 56th IFFI with two films in Indian Panorama

Imphal, Nov 7 (UNI) After a gap year at the 55th Indian Panorama in 2024, Manipur has made a remarkable comeback on the national cinematic stage with two Manipuri films selected for the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025.
The announcement was made by the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), terming it a proud moment for Manipuri cinema and its growing national stature.
In the prestigious selections, “Battlefield”, a feature-length documentary directed by Borun Thokchom, has been chosen for the non-feature section, while “Oitharei” (Save My Soul), the debut feature film by Dinesh Naorem, has been included in the feature film category.
This dual selection marks a significant milestone for the state’s film fraternity. The last Manipuri documentary to enter the Indian Panorama was “Andro Dreams” in 2023, while “Oitharei” breaks a seven-year gap for Manipuri feature films — the previous being “Eigi Kona (Stallone, My Pony)” directed by Maipaksana Haorongbam and Bobby Wahengbam in 2019.
Expressing pride in the filmmakers’ achievement, the Secretary of MSFDS ,Sunzu stated, “This is indeed a moment of celebration. The achievements of Borun Thokchom and Dinesh Naorem reaffirm that Manipuri cinema continues to stand tall — resilient and creative — despite the challenges. They have restored the faith that our stories, rooted in truth and courage, will always find their place on the global stage, and there is no dearth of conscious storytellers.”
The Society highlighted that “Battlefield” was incubated and developed at MSFDS’s Imphal Documentor, a five-day documentary project development lab jointly organized with the Documentary Resource Initiative (DRI), Kolkata, in 2022.
The initiative has been instrumental in mentoring emerging filmmakers, providing structured guidance to both documentary and fiction projects from Manipur.
Shot over ten years, “Battlefield” offers an evocative exploration of the Second World War’s Imphal battlefields, featuring war researcher Rajeshwor Yumnam.
The 80-minute documentary, produced by Manjoy Lourembam, Dr. Radhesyam Oinam of Network Services Imphal, and Viswamithra Universals, juxtaposes global commemoration of war heroes with the silence surrounding contemporary humanitarian suffering in Manipur.
The film is set to have its world premiere at the 56th IFFI, scheduled from November 20 to 28, 2025, in Goa.
“Oitharei,” on the other hand, is a powerful 102-minute feature that delves into the life of a widow navigating loss and trauma amid the ongoing ethnic unrest in the state.
The film has been praised for its emotional depth and social relevance, reaffirming Manipuri cinema’s longstanding tradition of storytelling rooted in empathy and resistance.
UNI NS BM
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