Manipuri Film ‘Ashengba Iral’ Shines at RIFF 2025:
Short Summary
Manipuri feature film Ashengba Iral has clinched three honours at the 6th Roshani International Film Festival (RIFF), organized by the Film Education and Welfare Foundation (FEWF), Maharashtra. Kshetrimayum Subadani—the film’s producer and story writer—received Best Script (Special Mention), Best Producer (Special Mention), and Best Feature Film. The festival conferred certificates and trophies (without cash awards) as part of its Special Mention recognitions. The win adds to the film’s growing list of accolades and is a proud moment for Manipuri cinema.
What Happened at RIFF 2025?
Here’s the headline everyone’s talking about: Ashengba Iral took home three awards at the 6th Roshani International Film Festival (RIFF)—a celebration backed by the Film Education and Welfare Foundation (FEWF), Maharashtra. The awards include Best Script (Special Mention), Best Producer (Special Mention), and Best Feature Film, all connected to the work and stewardship of Kshetrimayum Subadani. Notably, RIFF’s Special Mention category recognizes merit with certificates and trophies—but no cash prize—a model common to smaller, jury-driven festivals aiming to spotlight craft over commerce. The NE Now report on August 18, 2025 confirms the achievement and lists the categories exactly as announced.
For context, the 6th edition held its award ceremony on August 17, 2025, an event teased and time-stamped by RIFF’s official announcements. Timing matters because it grounds the news: the ceremony window and edition year verify that these are fresh wins for Ashengba Iral.
Meet the Team Behind Ashengba Iral
A film is never just a film—it’s a collective. Ashengba Iral (sometimes spelled “Ashengba Eral” in festival listings) is built on the creative backbone of Kshetrimayum Subadani (story writer and producer) and OC Meira (director), with Manaobi MM on screenplay. It’s produced under Dosuyali Film Production (Dosuyali Films) and presented by Leishang of Leishna Company. On-screen, the film features Avi Khundrakpam, Ithoi Oinam, Rashi, and Nongthanganbi in prominent roles—names that keep cropping up on Northeast festival circuits and state award lists. These details are clearly documented in the festival coverage and profiles of the film.
Why does this team matter? Because Manipuri cinema often functions like a finely tuned cooperative: a tight writer–producer–director triangle can be the difference between a film that merely releases and one that travels—to festivals, to juries, and eventually to the wider audience. Subadani’s dual role (story + production) means artistic vision and logistical execution sit closer together, reducing creative drift. In simple terms: fewer cooks, clearer flavor.
What Does “Ashengba Iral” Mean—and What’s the Film About?
The title Ashengba Iral translates approximately to “One’s Real Asset”, a clue to the film’s emotional core. The story turns the spotlight on elderly lives in old-age homes—people who end up there after being let down by their own families. That premise isn’t simply a tear-jerker; it’s a lens on intergenerational responsibility and the social fabric under strain. The film is in Meiteilon (Manipuri), runs around 148 minutes, and reflects a literary lineage because it’s based on a book of the same title—again, linking back to Subadani’s strengths as a writer.
If you’ve ever watched a film that made you call a parent, visit a grandparent, or check on an elderly neighbor, you know the power of stories like this. They’re deeply local yet instantly universal—the kind of narratives festivals love because they speak across borders without flattening cultural specificity.
FAQs
1) What exactly did Ashengba Iral win at RIFF 2025?
It won Best Script (Special Mention), Best Producer (Special Mention), and Best Feature Film at the 6th Roshani International Film Festival organized by FEWF, Maharashtra. The Special Mention awards include certificates and trophies, but no cash prize.
2) Who are the key people behind the film?
Kshetrimayum Subadani wrote the story and produced the film; OC Meira directed; Manaobi MM handled the screenplay. The film stars Avi Khundrakpam, Ithoi Oinam, Rashi, and Nongthanganbi, and was presented by Leishang of Leishna Company.
3) What does the title mean, and what is the film about?
The title roughly means “One’s Real Asset.” The narrative focuses on elderly residents of old-age homes who find themselves there after being abandoned or neglected by their families—an intimate story with universal stakes.
4) Has the film won other awards before RIFF?
Yes. Among others: Best Music Director, Best Female Singer, and Best Child Artiste at the 15th Manipur State Film Awards 2023; Best Feature Film (North East) and Best Director at the PRAG Cine Awards 2023; Jury Mention at the 2nd NIRI International Film Festival 2023; and Best Editor and Best Child Artiste at SSS MANIFA 2023
5) Where can I watch Ashengba Iral now?
As of this writing, no mainstream streaming release has been publicly reported. Your best bet is to watch for festival screenings and cultural programming updates—especially with the film’s selection at the Goa International Film Competition 2025 keeping it on the circuit
