Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi

Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi, popularly known as Tonthoi, is an Indian film actress. She has established a career in Manipur films and is the recipient of several awards, including a National Film Award. Since childhood, Tonthoi is a well behaved, disciplined, dedicated and hardworking person. Her hard work and dedication was paid off when she received FAM's Best Actress of the Year Award for 2012.She is a native of Keikhu, Manipur, India. She was born to Leishangthem Ibungomacha Singh and Leishangthem (Ongbi) Leibaklei Devi. She is a B.Com graduate and has taken keen interest in performing arts since very young age. Tonthoi loves sports and has actively been volunteering in social service since her childhood. She completed her Master in Social Work from Manipur University.

Career

Tonthoi appeared in feature films, Doordarshan serials, ISTV serials.

As a student, she was part of the University's women football team which participated in All India Women Football tournament. She has also been trained in playing the traditional music instrument Pena.^[1] She took a three-month acting class in the early month of 2007 under Oja Niladhaja Khuman.^[2] Her first film was Nangna Thawaini, where she is playing heroine's friend, alongside Guna in a supporting role. After this, she has done a number of Manipuri films. Among the notable ones are Loibataare Ta Raju, Thoicha, Amamba Sayon (Resurrection), Eepaktuda the lake, Leipaklei, Nungshibee Kabaw Valley, Beragee Bomb, Pallepfam and Phijigee Mani.

She has also produced a Manipuri film titled Beragee Bomb under the banner of Chingkhurakpa Arts along with her brother. Her Manipur film Pallepfam and her Assamese film Borsharanya got entries at the 10th edition of Habitat Film Festival. She also acted in an Assamese film Ishu which won National Award for Best Feature Film in Assamese 2017.

Awards

She has won a number of awards, including a National Film Award. She received the Best Supporting Actress award at the 59th National Film Awards 2011 for the film Phijigee Mani, where she is playing the role of Yaiphabi in the film.^[3] Leishangthem Tonthoi is the recipient of Best Actress of 6th RJ Film Vision Special Award 2011-2012 conferred by Film Academy Manipur (FAM). She was also given the "Special Mention Award" in the 7th State Film Festival 2010.^[4] As of 2016, she bagged the Best Actor North-East Female at the Prag Cine Awards North-East 2016 for her performance in Oken Amakcham's Manipur film Patkee Tharo.^[5][6] She also won the Best Actress Award at the Prag Cine Awards - North East 2018 for her performance in the film Iche Tampha.^[7][8]

Selected filmography

References