The renowned filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma’s 1990 Manipuri film “Ishanou” has undergone restoration and is set to make its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, taking place from May 16-27. This restored version of the movie, which explores the Maibi culture of Manipur and stars Anoubam Kiranmala and Kangjam Tomba, has been recognized as a World Classic and will be showcased in the Cannes Classic section. Originally, in 1991, the 91-minute film was an official entry in the Un Certain Regard category at Cannes. The Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) collaborated with the Film Heritage Foundation in Mumbai and director Aribam Syam Sharma to undertake this ambitious restoration project for “Ishanou.”
It is the second Manipuri feature film to be digitized by the SN Chand Cine Archive and the Museum of MSFDS and the first film to undergo restoration. Laimayum Surjakanta Sharma, Chairman of Film Forum Manipur (FFM), praised Syam Sharma as a pioneering figure in Manipuri cinema, dedicated to portraying the cultural and emotional intricacies of the state and its people through his distinctive artistic storytelling approach.
Various film-related organizations in Manipur had previously called upon the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to honor Syam Sharma with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Moreover, during the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa last year, Manipuri films were featured in a special category called “Golden Jubilee of Manipuri Cinema.”
