Ishanou

Aribam Syam Sharma’s Ishanou ('The Chosen One') is a poignant tale of love, faith and loss steeped in Manipuri culture. The film beautifully juxtaposes the spiritual world of the Maibis (priestesses) with everyday life, underlining the belief of how the occult and the material world exist in the same reality. Syam Sharma’s delicate approach, the stunning camerawork and understated performances, coupled with the vivid depiction of the Maibi culture and the use of the traditional music of Manipur (composed by the filmmaker himself), gives the film an authenticity that blends fiction, documentary and ethnography. Ishanou (1990) presented from the new 4K restoration by Film Heritage Foundation. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur on Ishanou: a new filmed interview with the filmmaker and archivist on this important work of Indian cinema. Ishanou at Cannes 2023: Singh Dungarpur and actor Kangabam Tomba interviewed by writer and broadcaster Anupama Chopra for Film Companion. Booklet featuring a new essay new writing by author and film scholar Dr Omar Ahmed, plus Shivendra Singh Dungarpur and director Aribam Syam Sharma on the restoration. New English subtitle translation. World premiere on Blu-ray.