ISHANOU THE CHOSEN ONE ARIBAM SYAM SHARMA

  • INDIA

    • /

  • MANIPURI

    • /

  • 1990

    • /

  • 90 mins

  • FILM COURTESY

    Restored by Film Heritage Foundation

  • PHOTO COURTESY

    Film Heritage Foundation

Aribam Syam Sharma’s ISHANOU is a poignant tale of love and loss set in Manipuri culture. It follows Tampha, who leaves her husband and daughter to join the Maibi sect of priestesses, drawn by a divine calling. Beneath her spiritual journey lies the deep sorrow of a mother separated from her child. The film beautifully contrasts the mystical Maibi world with everyday life, using delicate camerawork, understated performances, and traditional Manipuri music.

ಅರಿಬಾಮ್‌ ಸ್ಯಾಮ್‌ ಶರ್ಮ ಅವರ ಇಶಾನೌ, ಮಣಿಪುರಿ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಮತ್ತು ನಷ್ಟದ ಹೃದಯಸ್ಪರ್ಶಿ ಕತೆ. ತನ್ನ ಗಂಡ ಮತ್ತು ಮಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಮೈಬಿ ಪುರೋಹಿತ ಪಂಥಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಲು ಹೊರಟ ತಂಪಾ ದೈವೀಕ ಕರೆಯನ್ನನುಸರಿಸಿ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದಾಳೆ. ಆಕೆಯ ಆಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮಿಕ ಪ್ರಯಾಣದ ಹಿಂದೆ ತನ್ನ ಮಗುವಿನಿಂದ ಬೇರ್ಪಟ್ಟ ತಾಯಿಯ ಆಳವಾದ ದುಃಖವಿದೆ. ಸಾಂಪ್ರದಾಯಿಕ ಮಣಿಪುರಿ ಸಂಗೀತವನ್ನು ಬಳಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಅತೀಂದ್ರಿಯ ಮೈಬಿ ಜಗತ್ತನ್ನು ತೆರೆದಿಡುತ್ತದೆ. ನಂಬಿಕೆ, ತ್ಯಾಗ, ಮತ್ತು ಹಂಬಲವು ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ಜನಾಂಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿಳಿತವಾಗಿರುವುದು ಗೋಚರಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ.

Producer(s) or Production Company :

Aribam Syam Sharma

Screenplay :

M. K. Binodini Devi

Director of Photography :

Girish Padhiar

Editor :

Ujjal Nandy

Music :

Aribam Syam Sharma

Sound :

Durgadas Mitra

Cast :

Anoubam Kiranmala, Kangabam Tomba, Baby Molly, Manbi, Soraisam Dhiren, Baby Premita

Awards - Winner :

National Film Awards (Best Feature Film in Manipuri, Special Mention - Anoubam Kiranmala)

Awards - Nominations | Screened | Official Selection :

Cannes FF (Un Certain Regard), Singapore IFF (Silver Screen Award - Best Asian Feature Film), Festival des 3 Continents (Official Selection)

ARIBAM SYAM SHARMA

Aribam Syam Sharma, a pioneer of Manipuri cinema, is a multi-talented filmmaker, composer, and actor. With a career spanning nearly 50 years, he directed 15 feature films, over 40 documentaries, and composed music for 25 films. His debut film, LAMJA PARSHURAM (1974), was a blockbuster, but he later shifted to artistic cinema with IMAGI NINGTHEM (1981), which won the Montgolfière d’Or. His film ISHANOU (1990) was showcased at Cannes. A Padma Shri awardee, he also won multiple National Awards. His documentaries captured Manipuri culture, and his film SANGAI won global acclaim. His legacy continues to shape Indian and Manipuri cinema.