Ishanou (English: The Chosen One) is a 1990 Indian Meitei language 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.

Plot

"Ishanou" by Aribam Syam Sharma is a moving story of love and grief immersed in Manipuri culture. The video beautifully contrasts the spiritual world of the Maibis with the rhythm of everyday life, emphasising the coexistence of the occult and the tangible in the same reality. To the mesmerising sounds of the Pena (traditional string instrument), the bamboo flute, and incantation hymns, the drama unfolds. The director's straightforward approach, delicate camerawork, and understated acting, combined with the vivid depiction of Maibi culture and the use of Manipur's traditional music in the film's score, lend the film an authenticity that blends storytelling, documentary, and ethnography.