NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Second Run Blu-ray (May 2025): Second Run has transferred Aribam Syam Sharma's Ishanou ('The Chosen One') to Blu-ray. It is cited as being "from the new 4K restoration by Film Heritage Foundation". The restoration used the best surviving elements: the 16 mm original camera negative from the National Film Archive of India and two 35 mm prints preserved by Aribam Syam Sharma. The original 16 mm negative suffered from significant degradation, including vinegar syndrome, mold, warping, broken perforations, scratches, emulsion halos, and base distortion. Additionally, portions of inter-negative used in the original camera negative caused variations in image quality, resulting in overt graininess in some sections. Despite these challenges, the restoration process involved meticulous manual work, including digital cleanup, grain management, and color correction coordinated between technicians in Bologna and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur in Mumbai, Sharma in Manipur. Ishanou’s aesthetic is defined by its simplicity, authenticity, and integration of Manipuri cultural elements. Cinematographer Girish Padhiar employs delicate, naturalistic visuals to capture the beauty of Manipur’s landscapes -- lush fields, misty hills, and serene rivers. The camera often lingers on small details, such as Tampha’s hands tending flowers or the intricate movements of Maibi dances, creating an intimate, immersive experience. The restored 1080P enhances the clarity of its colors, particularly the hues of the rituals and the subtle gradations of the landscapes, while preserving the grainy texture. It's not without its softness and inconsistencies, but I was still very pleased with the HD presentation that the Blu-ray provides. The video quality is a triumph, considering the poor condition of the source materials. The restoration balances clarity with the film’s inherent 16 mm texture, avoiding the overly polished look of some modern restorations. While minor grain and inconsistencies persist due to the original elements, these do not detract from the viewing experience and instead enhance the film’s authenticity.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Second Run uses a linear PCM dual-mono track (16-bit) in the original Manipuri language. The soundtrack, rooted in traditional Manipuri music, is a vital component of Ishanou. Folk instruments, like the pena (a stringed instrument) and rhythmic chants, accompany key scenes, grounding the film in its cultural context. The soundtrack includes traditional Manipuri folk songs and chants, particularly during the Lai Haraoba festival and Maibi rituals. These vocals, often performed by female voices in a call-and-response style, carry a spiritual resonance, reinforcing the matriarchal power of the Maibi sect. The audio restoration, despite the absence of a sound negative, delivers a clear and immersive soundscape, amplifying the traditional Manipuri music and ambient sounds that define the film’s emotional and spiritual resonance. It can be scattered but is still pleasing enough not to impinge upon the viewing experience. Second Run offers optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Second Run Blu-ray offers relevant supplements. There is a 20-minute newly filmed interview with the director Aribam Syam Sharma. It is a highlight, offering a rare opportunity to hear from the 88-year-old Manipuri cinema pioneer. Sharma discusses his career trajectory, from acting and music direction in the first Manipuri film, Matamgi Manipur (1972), to becoming a celebrated filmmaker. He reflects on Ishanou’s organic development, its decade-long gap since his previous feature Imagi Ningthem (1981,) and its exploration of Maibi culture. Sharma also addresses the restoration process, expressing gratitude for the Film Heritage Foundation’s efforts to preserve his vision. The interview, lasting over 20 minutes, provides a personal and historical perspective, making it essential for understanding the film’s context and Sharma’s legacy. Ishanou at Cannes 2023 is a dozen-minute interview conducted by writer and broadcaster Anupama Chopra for Film Companion, featuring Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, director of the Film Heritage Foundation, and actor Kangabam Tomba, who plays Dhanabir. Recorded during the film’s red-carpet premiere at Cannes Classics 2023, the interview captures the excitement of Ishanou’s return to the Croisette, 32 years after its Un Certain Regard screening in 1991. Dungarpur discusses the restoration’s challenges, including the degraded 16 mm negative and the year-long process, while Tomba shares his emotional experience walking the red carpet at 76, noting Sharma’s absence due to health issues and the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. The 12-minute piece is concise but poignant, highlighting the film’s cultural significance and the restoration’s global impact. The Blu-ray includes a 20-page booklet featuring new writing by author and film scholar Dr. Omar Ahmed (Islamic Influence on the European Civilization,) alongside contributions from Shivendra Singh Dungarpur and Aribam Syam Sharma.

Aribam Syam Sharma's Ishanou ('The Chosen One') is set in the lush, culturally rich valley of Manipur, a northeastern state of India known for its unique blend of indigenous traditions and Vaishnavite Hindu influences. The film weaves a tapestry of themes that resonate both locally and universally, grounded in the cultural and spiritual ethos of Manipur. The central tension in Ishanou lies between Tampha’s worldly life as a wife and mother and her involuntary spiritual calling as a Maibi. The Maibi sect, a matriarchal institution of priestesses who serve as mediums for deities in Manipuri indigenous religion, represents a sacred but demanding role that requires complete devotion. Sacrifice permeates Ishanou, both for Tampha and her family. Tampha sacrifices her domestic life, while Dhanabir and Bino lose their wife and mother. Ishanou is essentially a celebration of Manipuri culture, particularly its pre-Hindu indigenous traditions. Sharma’s background as a documentary filmmaker informs Ishanou’s ethnographic approach. The Second Run Blu-ray of Ishanou is a stellar release that honors Aribam Syam Sharma’s masterpiece through a satisfyingly restored presentation with meaningful extras. The video quality, derived from a challenging 4K restoration, revitalizes the film’s naturalistic beauty and cultural details with a faithful heavy texture that enhances its timeless appeal. Ishanou is a film that I am thrilled to see. We give it a very strong recommendation.

Gary Tooze