Bollywood and Manipur

Connection between Bollywood and Manipur

Not to be confused with Meitei cinema or Cinema of Manipur.

This article contains the Meitei alphabet. Without proper rendering support, you may see errors in display.

The connection between the Indian film industry, Bollywood (Hindi language cinema), and the state of Manipur, is about how Manipur's culture, stories, and scenery are portrayed in Bollywood movies. There are challenges filmmakers face in accurately representing the state. Additionally, the involvement of Manipuri artists in Bollywood also plays an important factor.

Raj Nartaki (The Court Dancer, 1941) is one of the earliest Bollywood movies made on the history of Manipur kingdom

## Bollywood movies about Manipur

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### Raj Nartaki (1941)

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Raj Nartaki (English: The Court Dancer) is a 1941 Bollywood movie directed by Modhu Bose under the Wadia Movietone banner. The story is set in the early 19th century in the Manipur Kingdom and is about social barriers between a court dancer and a prince (Chandrakirti Singh) of the Ningthouja dynasty. The movie shows Manipuri classical dance performances.[1][2]

### Mary Kom (2014)

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Priyanka Chopra and Mary Kom during the promotion of the movie Mary Kom

Mary Kom is a 2014 Bollywood biographical sports film based on the life of the eponymous boxer Mary Kom, a sportsperson from Manipur. It is directed by Omung Kumar.[3][4]

### Penalty (2019)

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Penalty is a 2019 Bollywood movie about a football lover named Lukram from Manipur. It shows Kay Kay Menon besides main role, Lukram Smil in lead roles. It is directed by Shubham Singh.[5][6][7]

### The Diary of Manipur (2025)

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The Diary of Manipur is a 2025 upcoming Bollywood movie about the story of a violence in Manipur.[8] Veteran actor Anupam Kher took the role of the army officer, with other notable actors like Deepak Tijori, Mukesh Tiwari, and Amit Rao. The project has a production budget of 20 crores INR.[9]

## Bollywood artists from Manipur

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### Lin Laishram

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Lin Laishram appeared in Bollywood films like Mary Kom and Rangoon. In 2015, she starred in Umrika, directed by Prashant Nair, playing a Nepali girl alongside Prateik Babbar. She became more recognized in the Bollywood industry after her role in the popular Netflix comedy-drama Axone in 2020.[10]

### Priyakanta Laishram

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Priyakanta Laishram appeared in AIB's (All India Bakchod) music video The Bollywood Diva (2017), which starred Kangana Ranaut and was directed by Tanmay Bhatt.[10]

### Lukram Smil

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Lukram Smil made his Bollywood debut in the movie Penalty, directed by Subham Singh in 2017. He also appeared in the 2022 Lionsgate Play Originals series Jugaadistan.[10]

### Loitongbam Dorendra

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Loitongbam Dorendra is known for playing the role of Tiger Sanga in the 2022 Bollywood film Anek, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and directed by Anubhav Sinha.[10]

### Biju (Bijou) Thaangjam

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Biju (Bijou Thaangjam) has appeared in several Bollywood movies, including Mary Kom, Shivaay, Penalty, Jagga Jasoos, Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi, Made In China, and The Test Case, among others.[10]

## Meitei clothing

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Further information: Meitei clothing, Women in Meitei civilisation, Meitei clothing in Bangladesh, and Meitei clothing in Myanmar

In 2024, Urvashi Rautela became the first Bollywood fashion showstopper and actress to wear a Meitei traditional bridal dress, made from 24 carat gold.[11][12][13]

In 2024, Bollywood actress Sunny Leone, wearing traditional Meitei women's clothes, including Phanek, walked as a fashion showstopper for Manipuri fashion brand, House of Ali, led by fashion designers, Alimuddin and Daya Oinam.[14][15]

Manushi Chhillar, a Bollywood actress and a Miss World 2017 winner, wearing traditional Meitei women's dressings,[16][17] walked as a fashion showstopper at the Manipur Fashion Extravaganza 2022 (MFE) in Imphal.[18][19]

Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen, wearing traditional Meitei clothes, walked as a fashion showstopper for Manipuri designer Robert Naorem at the Sangai Festival 2022.[20][21][22] Besides, in several other occasions, she is known for wearing traditional Meitei women's dressings, like Phanek and Innaphi.[23][24][25]

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut is also known for wearing traditional Meitei women's dresses, like phanek[26][27] and enaphi in several occasions.[28][29]

## Ban on Bollywood movies

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Bollywood movies or Hindi language movies are banned from being released in the cinema halls of Manipur, by some local groups. The purpose of the ban is to protect, preserve and promote the film industry of Manipuri language cinema, from being superseded by the bigger film industry, like Bollywood.[30] Before the ban was imposed, the last Bollywood movie that was released in Imphal was the actor Shahrukh Khan starrer movie Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998.[31] The ban was so strong that even the Bollywood movie made on the story of a Manipur based athlete Mary Kom was banned from being released in Manipur.[32][33][34][35][36]

## See also

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Portals:

* Arts
* Asia
* History
* India
* Fashion
* Film
* Politics

* Hollywood and the United Kingdom
* 1st Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival
* 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival

## References

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1. ^ Gopal, Murti (2008). Global Bollywood: Travels of Hindi Songs and Dance. U of Minnesota Press. p. 25. ISBN 9780816645787.
2. ^ Kaur, Sinha (14 June 2005). Bollyworld: Popular Indian Cinema Through a Transnational Lens. SAGE Publications. p. 47. ISBN 8132103440.
3. ^ Times, Manipur (2014-09-01). "The making of Mary Kom- the film | Manipur Times". Retrieved 2025-03-03.
4. ^ ""Priyanka was my only choice for Mary Kom" | Filmfare.com". www.filmfare.com. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
5. ^ "First look of Kay Kay Menon's Penalty". The Tribune. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
6. ^ "Unity in diversity doesnâ€™t exist in India, says Shubham Singh | Unity in diversity doesnâ€™t exist in India, says Shubham Singh". www.deccanchronicle.com. 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
7. ^ "Web Series News: Netflix To Stream 2019 Film 'Penalty'". Mumbai Live. 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
8. ^ Varma, Lipika (2024-12-09). "Amit Rao's Bold Bollywood Debut in The Diary of Manipur". www.deccanchronicle.com. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
9. ^ Bharat, E. T. V. (2025-01-30). "Mahakumbh Sensation Monalisa To Make Acting Debut In Sanoj Mishra's The Diary Of Manipur". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
10. ^ a b c d e "8 Actors From Manipur Who Featured In Malayalam Hindi and Assamese Movies and Series". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
11. ^ "Urvashi Rautela wears a 24K real gold Manipuri Potloi: Know more about this unique Manipuri dress". Hindustan Times. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
12. ^ "Urvashi Rautela wears Manipuri Potloi made from real 24K gold". The Times of India. 2024-09-17. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
13. ^ "Urvashi Rautela becomes 'first Indian actor' to walk the ramp in a 24k gold Manipuri kumin potloi". The Indian Express. 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
14. ^ "Sunny Leone Looks Ethereal As She Turns Showstopper For Manipuri Fashion Brand, House Of Ali". filmibeat.com. 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
15. ^ Asian, Urban (2024-05-31). "Sunny Leone turns showstopper for Manipuri fashion brand 'House of Ali'". Blog. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
16. ^ S, Vangamla Salle K. (2022-10-17). "Manipur: Manushi Chhillar stuns as showstopper in Naorem's design at MFE". EastMojo. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
17. ^ "Manipur Fashion Extravanganza 2022: Dressed in ethnic attire former miss world Manushi Chhillar turns as showstopper". India Today NE (in Hindi). 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
18. ^ "Manushi Chhillar Walks As Showstopper On Robert Naorem's Show In Imphal | Ukhrul Times Media". 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
19. ^ "Manushi Chhillar and Manasa Varanasi walk the ramp at Manipur Fashion Extravaganza 2022". www.femina.in. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
20. ^ "Sushmita Sen wears Manipur's traditional headdress and attire; know more about them". The Indian Express. 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
21. ^ "Sushmita Sen steals the show at Manipur Sangai Festival 2022!". www.femina.in. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
22. ^ S, Vangamla Salle K. (2022-12-01). "Pics: Sushmita Sen wows Manipur, walks the ramp in Phanek, Rani Phi". EastMojo. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
23. ^ "Sushmita Sen looks like a dream in this traditional Manipuri attire". The Indian Express. 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
24. ^ Hungama, Bollywood (2020-11-17). "Sushmita Sen feels beautiful in traditional Manipuri attire designed by Robert Naorem : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Retrieved 2025-03-03.
25. ^ S, Vangamla Salle K. (2020-11-16). "Sushmita Sen looks stunning in Manipuri traditional attire by Robert Naorem". EastMojo. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
26. ^ S, Vangamla Salle K. (2020-09-01). "Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut flaunts Manipuri Phanek; Know why?". EastMojo. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
27. ^ "Kangana Ranaut Dons Manipuri Phanek For a Fashion Cause". www.india.com. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
28. ^ "Kangana Ranaut looks classy in this Manipuri phanek and enaphi; sari goals, anyone?". The Indian Express. 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
29. ^ "Go home everybody, Kangana Ranaut's latest outfit just won 2016". India Today. 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
30. ^ "How the ban on Hindi entertainment ushered in a new culture in Manipur". caravanmagazine.in. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
31. ^ Banakar, Pushkar (2018-11-04). "Korean, English movies welcome in Manipur, Bollywood is not". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
32. ^ Davidson, Kumam (2014-08-18). "Manipuris avidly discuss forthcoming Mary Kom film but are banned from seeing it in theatres". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
33. ^ "No screening of Priyanka Chopra's latest movie on Mary Kom in Manipur".
34. ^ "Mary Kom not releasing in Manipur disheartening: Priyanka Chopra". India Today. 2014-09-11. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
35. ^ "Mary Kom disappointed as her home state misses film show". India Today. 2014-09-07. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
36. ^ "Boxer disappointed as film banned in Manipur". Gulf Times. 2014-09-11. Retrieved 2025-03-03.