Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Manipuri short film Toy Gun took home the Best Short Feature Film award for North-East India at the 10th Chalachitram National Film Festival. The event wrapped up Sunday at the Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio in Kahilipara. It operated under the theme of "Our Heritage, Our Pride."
This 14-minute and 55-second film marks the debut of director Thingnam Parshuram. He previously won the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar in 2023. The plot follows a widowed mother and her son, dealing with the psychological weight of regional conflict. Tensions rise when the boy asks for a toy gun, forcing the mother to confront memories of real-world violence.
Kh Omeshwori produced the work for Freedom Ekon and Farm House Production. The cast features Leishangthem Tonthoi, Thingnam Parihanba, and Irengbam Premananda. Akhu Chingangbam composed the musical score. The film has been on a winning streak. It grabbed the Best Non-Feature Film award at the third North East India Film Festival in March 2026, where it served as the closing selection. It also took first runner-up honors at the 2025 Hyderabad International Short Film Festival.
The production has gained serious momentum. It secured spots at the 16th Bengaluru International Short Film Festival 2026, which offers an Oscar-qualifying path, plus the 14th Jagran Film Festival 2026 and the 18th SIGNS Kerala Festival. The win highlights how Manipuri cinema connects with audiences through heavy themes of conflict and memory.
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