Photo Courtesy: nenews
Imphal: The Manipuri feature film Enoong Ngallamdai, or Fireflies in the Dark, premiered at the 2026 Vancouver International Film Festival. It appeared in the Panorama Cinemas of Asia section. The 85-minute movie explores the human toll of the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur. It tracks three parallel stories: a pregnant woman enduring gunfire, a boy searching for his mother with a displaced calf, and a cafe owner sheltering fleeing residents.
Producer Jani Viswanath stated the film uses these characters to show the conflict. She noted, "It does not glorify violence but shows how ordinary people affected by the conflict struggle to survive and move forward despite losing almost everything." Writers Chingsanglakpa and Yogesh Lohan penned the script, with Lohan also directing. He visited Manipur to interview survivors before drafting the scenes.
Lohan captured the film at real sites across Manipur using local help. He wanted to honor the victims without turning their pain into a spectacle. The production faced significant challenges. It features actors Bala Hijam Ningthoujam, Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi, Angom Pamdamba Singh, Aheibam Chiranjit, Luwang Yumlembam, and Ratan Lai. Several residents from remote villages and refugee camps also made their acting debuts.
Ravi Ranjan Sharma managed cinematography, and Meena Longjam served as creative director. Sound designers Amrit Pritam and Debajit Changmai joined composer Daniel B George and editor Tinni Mitra on the crew. Rajni Basumatary acted as executive producer. Sharing the film in Vancouver proved to be an emotional milestone for the entire team.
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