AK Gyaneshori, the first woman film director from Manipur, has been honored with two prestigious awards in 2024.
Euro Asian University, Estonia, conferred upon her an Honorary Doctorate, while she was also recognised with the Bharat Gaurav Samman 2024 for Women Leadership during a convocation ceremony held on Saturday held at Classic Emperial Cruise in Kochi, Kerala.
Gyaneshori made her directorial debut with the feature film ‘Nungshirure Eina’ under the Panthoibi Film Industries banner, after receiving her Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2003.
Prior to this, she served as an assistant director for the 2002 Manipuri celluloid film ‘Nongju Ahing,’ written by M Pramodini and directed by renowned filmmaker Laimayum Surjakanta. In addition to feature films, she has directed documentaries such as ‘Chana Lukhoi’ and ‘Imagi Ibungo,’ as well as the short film ‘Ichagi Damak.’
Gyaneshori was born on December 24, 1978, as the third of six children of Akoijam Santajit and Okram Ningol Akoijam Ongbi Ekashini at Singjamei Waikhom Leikai. She is married to M Sukumar of Thoubal Athokpam and resides in Nagamapal Kangjabi with her two sons. Gyaneshori also serves as a headmistress at a government school.
Her career in film began in 1999 when she appeared as a supporting actor in ‘Aroiba Bidai,’ a Manipuri feature film produced by MK Jit.
In 2000, she participated in a one-month theatre workshop organised by the National School of Drama in Delhi and attended the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) as a delegate the same year. Alongside her work in cinema, she is also a published poet, having authored the poetry collection ‘Sidriphaoba Hingadabani’ in 2015.
With a strong desire to continue creating, Gyaneshori is committed to directing more films in the future.
