A village considered the hub of moviemaking in the Naga-inhabited hills of Manipur hosted a talent hunt event that has raised the hopes of its residents for a film centre promised in 2019.
Many of some 3,000 people in Ringui, a hilltop Tangkhul Naga village in the Ukhrul district, have been making films and music and staging plays since the 1980s. This earned Ringui, about 60 km northeast of Manipur’s capital Imphal, the “Bollywood of Ukhrul” tag.
On March 16, the village organised the grand finale of Ringui’s Got Talent (RGT) to unearth actors, dancers, singers, and other performing artists. It was the 10th edition of the event but the expansion of its scope to cover the State beyond underlined the capability of the villagers to shine through tough phases— the impact of an ethnic conflict on Manipur since May 2023 in this case.
One of the reasons behind the resilience was that Ringui’s creative journey began when extremism headlined by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) was at its peak. Ringui is close to Somdal, the village of Thuingaleng Muivah, the general secretary of the NSCN’s Isak-Muivah faction.
“I am thrilled that RGT has reached the State level. We must continue to support and promote our talents in such meaningful ways,” 66-year-old Ameipam Zimik, Ringui’s first actor said, hoping that the fresh talents unearthed would continue to fuel the music, film, and theatre ‘industry’ of the village.
“Advancing in the fields of talent, creativity, and the film industry reflects the progress of our society, village, and people. It fills me with pride to see how far RGT has come and the bright future it holds,” 68-year-old Aphang Ahum, the village’s first film director and producer said.
Zanmei Makang, Kennies Khuraijam, and Machunreiliu Phaomei – all singers – emerged as the top three among 19 performers at the RGT10 organised by Dewdrops, a Ringui-based organisation. The organisers said they would be provided opportunities to participate in bigger events in Manipur and beyond apart from help for their career progression.
Ms. Makang was the first contestant from Ringui village to win the title since the fourth season of RGT a decade ago. She and the other participants were judged by Strela Luwang, the second runner-up of Miss Femina 2023, Songashim Rungsung, the second runner-up of Mr. Friendship International 2022, singer James Riamei, and Soreichan Nakhedei, who runs a school of music.
“Cultural performers from our village represented the State at various events across India since the 1950s. The passion to express led to a creative movement 35 years ago with the first music album in 1985 and the first feature film titled Nawui Tuingashit in 1989,” Ringui resident and social activist A.C. Thotso told TheHindu on Wednesday.
The last film produced by Ringui’s filmmakers was Atazan in 2024. The newest film, Kumram Rose awaits completion.
“Our love for performing arts, specifically films, made the Manipur government sanction a ₹63-crore project to build a film centre at Ringui in 2019. I hope our annual talent show, which has unveiled actors, singers, dancers, painters, and other creative artists, goes on to make the film centre a reality,” he said.
