The Chosen One (1990)

Name: The Chosen One
Genre: Drama
Released: 1990-12-07

1h 31m

Running Time

Plot.

This Manipuri drama opens as a happy young couple are preparing for an ear-piercing ceremony for their first child, a daughter. This is an important custom in their region of India, signifying the beginning of a responsible stage in life. Things go awry when the wife begins talking to flowers, singing odd songs, and having fits. In fact, the fits get so violent that she has to be physically restrained and tied down to prevent her from hurting herself. It eventually emerges that she has been chosen by a spirit which is special to a particular religious cult, the Meibis. Things proceed swiftly with her new, unsought, allegiance as she makes contact with the cult and its leader and prepares to leave her heartsick husband and child behind.

Where to Watch.

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Cast & Crew.

Anoubam Kiranmala

Kangabam Tomba

Baby Molly

Manbi

Dhiren

Tara

Aribam Syam Sharma

Director / Music / Producer

M. K. Binodini Devi

Screenplay

Ujjal Nandi

Editor

Girish Padhiar

Director of Photography

Media.

Details.

Release Date
December 7, 1990

Original Name
Ishanou

Status
Released

Running Time
1h 31m

Genres
Drama

Last updated: 2025-04-04

This Movie Is About.

family

Wiki.

Ishanou (English: The Chosen One) is a 1990 Indian Manipuri film written by M. K. Binodini Devi and directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. The movie stars Anoubam Kiranmala and Kangabam Tomba in the lead roles. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. In 2023, it was recognised as a "World Classic" by the Cannes Film Festival 2023 and it was the only film selected from India for the event for that year. The movie was first aired in Doordarshan and later released in Usha Cinema, Paona Bazar on 6 July 1990.

Ishanou was screened at many film festivals, including Singapore International Film Festival, London Film Festival, Des 3 Continents, Festival of Festivals Toronto, International Film Festival Rotterdam, Fribourg International Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival and International Film Festival of India. Ishanou was restored by Film Heritage Foundation and the restored film was selected for a red-carpet world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival 2023.