The severe human toll resulting from the ethnic conflict that erupted across Manipur in 2023 has taken center stage at an international cultural platform. Highlighting the quiet resilience of ordinary civilians caught in the crossfire, the Manipuri feature film made its world premiere at the 2026 Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). The presentation was officially hosted as part of the festival's Panorama Cinemas of Asia section.
Three Interlinked Stories of Survival
Titled Enoong Ngallamdai, which translates to Fireflies in the Dark, the 85-minute feature avoids cinematic spectacle to focus on everyday survival. The screenplay connects three distinct yet simultaneous journeys that highlight how civilian lives unravelled during the unrest.
- One narrative centers on an expectant mother forced to deliver her child while heavy gunfire echoes around her shelter.
- Another thread follows a young boy wandering through abandoned surroundings in search of his missing mother, accompanied only by a displaced stray calf.
- A third arc features an empathetic cafe proprietor who braves immense personal danger to provide sanctuary to desperate families escaping street violence.
Producer Jani Viswanath explained that the creative team deliberately avoided glorifying bloodshed. The project instead concentrates on how families stripped of their homes and livelihoods summon the inner fortitude to navigate trauma and preserve their dignity.
Real Locations and Authentic Firsthand Testimonies
The film was directed by Yogesh Lohan, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Chingsanglakpa. Reflecting on the creative process, Lohan shared that he initially signed on strictly as a writer. Before structuring any dialogues or scenes, he travelled directly into Manipur to listen to displaced survivors firsthand.
Lohan noted that while the sheer scale of grief was overwhelming, the enduring hope displayed by the affected families proved deeply moving. To maintain absolute authenticity, the production was carried out on actual ground locations across Manipur with generous cooperation from local neighborhoods. The crew intended to present an honest testament to community courage rather than reducing private misery into drama.
Refugee Camp Residents Share Screen with Proven Actors
Screening the completed work before an international audience in Vancouver represented an emotional triumph for the production unit, especially given the physical and logistical hurdles overcome during filming inside a tense region.
The ensemble features established talent, including Bala Hijam Ningthoujam, widely recognized for her performance in the BAFTA-winning film Boong. The cast is rounded out by Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi, Angom Pamdamba Singh, Aheibam Chiranjit, Luwang Yumlembam, and Ratan Lai. Complementing the professional artists are non-actors recruited directly from remote rural hamlets and temporary relief shelters, lending raw realism to the portrayal.
Behind the Scenes and Technical Craft
Ravi Ranjan Sharma handled the cinematography, capturing the stark landscapes of the state, while Meena Longjam served as creative director. Sound engineering duties were steered by Amrit Pritam alongside Debajit Changmai. The background score was composed by Daniel B George, editing was completed by Tinni Mitra, and Rajni Basumatary served as the executive producer.
