Ishanou to be Screened at LA Academy Museum in Landmark Indian Cinema Series

In a landmark moment for Manipuri cinema, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles has announced that Aribam Syam Sharma’s acclaimed film Ishanou will be screened on March 11, 2025. The screening is part of the historic film series “Emotion in Colour: A Kaleidoscope of Indian Cinema,” which runs from March 7 to April 19, 2025.

Curated by renowned filmmaker and preservationist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, the series will showcase 12 iconic Indian films that explore the evolution of color in Indian cinema and its impact on storytelling. The impressive lineup features cinematic masterpieces such as Mother India, Manthan, Amar Akbar Anthony, Mirch Masala, Devdas, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Jodhaa Akbar, Kanchenjungha, Maya Darpan, Iruvar, and Kummatty, with Ishanou proudly representing Manipuri cinema on this prestigious global stage.

Originally showcased at Cannes' Un Certain Regard in 1991, Ishanou has been restored by the Manipur State Film Development Society in collaboration with Shivendra Singh Dungarpur’s Film Heritage Foundation Mumbai. Its restored version was selected for the Cannes Classics Section in 2023, reaffirming its significance in global cinema. Deeply rooted in Manipur’s cultural and spiritual traditions, the film offers a poetic exploration of the enigmatic Maibi priestesses and their mystical world—a narrative unlike any other in Indian cinema.

The screening underscores the growing international recognition of regional Indian cinema and celebrates its rich artistic heritage.

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Ishanou to be Screened at LA Academy Museum in Landmark Indian Cinema Series

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