# Manipuri Drama on 2023 Ethnic Unrest Makes Global Debut at Vancouver Festival

> Running 85 minutes, the feature film Enoong Ngallamdai documents survival and human endurance across actual conflict zones in Manipur.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Manipur · **Published:** 2026-10-12 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/manipur/manipur-ke-2023-jatiya-snkata-para-bani-phichara-philma-ka-vancouver-men-hua-varlda-primiyara-46972 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Manipur Conflict, Manipuri Cinema, Enoong Ngallamdai, Vancouver Film Festival, Yogesh Lohan, Bala Hijam Ningthoujam

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.

## What this means for you
This premiere brings international visibility to the civilian hardships endured in Northeast India, shifting focus from political rhetoric to lived human reality.

- **Across India:** Viewers nationwide gain an empathetic, ground-level window into the emotional consequences of internal displacement beyond brief headlines. It fosters deeper civic awareness about long-term rehabilitation needs in conflict zones.
- **In Manipur:** Local survivors and refugee communities receive global acknowledgment of their daily struggles without sensationalized media framing. It also opens avenues for indigenous actors and storytellers on respected international cinema platforms.
- **For independent filmmakers:** The project illustrates how ethical cinema can be produced within sensitive locations through genuine community collaboration. It offers a production template for chronicling real-world crises with dignity.
- **For festival audiences:** Global moviegoers are prompted to reflect on civilian survival amidst unrest rather than detached military narratives. It directs international cultural empathy toward displaced families striving to rebuild normal life.

## Why this happened
The film took shape in response to the severe ethnic violence that gripped Manipur in 2023, which left deep social ruptures and displaced tens of thousands of residents. The creative team aimed to document this humanitarian tragedy through an honest lens focused entirely on human vulnerability.

- **The 2023 regional crisis:** The widespread unrest that erupted in Manipur disrupted daily civilian life, trapping ordinary people in zones of active danger. Vulnerable groups, including expectant mothers and children, endured the most traumatic disruptions during this period.
- **Direct engagement with survivors:** Director Yogesh Lohan visited relief facilities in Manipur to hear firsthand accounts before developing the script. These authentic conversations steered the project away from generic drama toward grounded community truth.
- **Ethical artistic commitment:** Witnessing the sheer devastation compelled the filmmakers to avoid turning suffering into commercial entertainment. They chose instead to record quiet resilience by shooting on actual locations alongside resident communities.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where did the film Enoong Ngallamdai make its world premiere?
The film premiered at the 2026 Vancouver International Film Festival under the Panorama Cinemas of Asia section.

### 2. What is the core subject of this Manipuri feature film?
It depicts the human endurance and everyday struggles of ordinary civilians during the 2023 ethnic conflict in Manipur.

### 3. Who directed and wrote the film?
The film was directed by Yogesh Lohan and co-written by Lohan alongside Chingsanglakpa.

### 4. Which actors star in the production?
The cast features Bala Hijam Ningthoujam, Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi, Angom Pamdamba Singh, and residents from local refugee camps.

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