Borun Thokchom’s much-awaited documentary Battlefield premiered today at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, where it was selected for screening under the Indian Panorama (Non-Feature) category, marking a significant milestone for the Manipuri filmmaker and the state’s film industry.
Produced by Manjoy Lourembam, Dr. Radhesyam Oinam, and Viswamithra Universals, the full-length documentary was presented as a compelling exploration of the historic Battle of Imphal—one of World War II’s decisive conflicts between Japanese forces and Allied troops.
Shot over a decade, the film was driven by extensive research and navigated through the insights of war expert Rajeshwor Yumnam, who features prominently throughout the narrative.
A red-carpet ceremony followed the screening, where the director, cast, crew, and festival delegates gathered in celebration of the documentary’s world premiere. Battlefield was widely described as a cinematic revelation of Manipur’s wartime scars, amplifying the voices of survivors while drawing a stark comparison between internationally celebrated WWII commemorations and the silence surrounding Manipur’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
It was further highlighted that the documentary had been developed through MSFDS’ “Imphal Documentor,” a five-day project incubator organized in 2022 with support from Documentary Resource Initiative (DRI), Kolkata, and Television Cine Foundation Manipur.
This year, 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films have been shortlisted for the Indian Panorama selections at IFFI 2025. Adding to Manipur’s presence, Dinesh Naorem’s feature film Oitharei, selected in the Panorama (Feature) category, is scheduled for screening on November 27, featuring Suraj Ngashepam, Sanjuna, Sunny, and Nandakumar in lead roles.
