Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi


Tonthoingambi Leishangthem, popularly known as Tonthoi, is an Indian actress. She has established a career in Manipuri films and is the recipient of several awards, including a National Film Award.

Early life and education

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's in social work from Manipur University. 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. Before joining NSD, she took a three-month acting class in the early month of 2007 under Oja Niladhaja Khuman. She has also completed her one-year residential certificate course in Theatre in Education from National School of Drama, Tripura.

Career

Leishangthem appeared in feature films, Doordarshan serials and ISTV serials.
Her first film is Nangna Thawaini, where she was playing heroine's friend, alongside Kamala and Gung 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 , 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 Manipuri film Pallepfam and her Assamese film Borxharanya got entries at the 10th edition of Habitat Film Festival. She also acted in an Assamese film Ishu which went on to won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Assamese 2017.
Her 2019 film Eigi Kona won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 67th National Film Awards. She played a supporting role in the film.
Her performance as Leima in the 2024 film Langdai Ama was recognized by Screen Echoes Manipur as one of the Best Eight Performances in Manipuri Cinema of the Last Decade. The Signpost News praised Tonthoi’s performance in the film as “quietly commanding”, noting her ability to convey pain, pride, and vulnerability with authenticity and emotional depth, calling it the heart of the film.

Accolades

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 played the role of Yaiphabee in the film. The citation for the award reads, "For the dignity and power with which L. T. Devi informs the character Yaipabhee in this tightly controlled Manipuri story."
AwardCategoryFilm
7th Manipur State Film Festival 2010Special Jury MentionPaokhum
59th National Film Awards 2011Best Supporting ActressPhijigee Mani
8th Manipur State Film Festival 2013Best Actor in a Supporting Role - FemaleThasi Thanou
9th Manipur State Film Awards 2014Best Actor in a Leading Role - FemaleNangna Kappa Pakchade
Prag Cine Awards North-East 2016Best Actor North-East FemalePatkee Tharo
Prag Cine Awards North-East 2018Best ActressIche Tampha
11th Manipuri State Film Awards 2018Special Jury AwardIche Tampha
Chalachitram National Film Festival 2021Grand Jury Award for Best ActorPanthougi Liklam
Global Independent Film Festival of India 2022Best Actor - FemaleEewai
Goa International Film Competition 2022Best Actor - FemaleEewai
3rd Jammu Film Festival 2023Best Actor - FemaleEewai
Niri9 2nd International Film Festival 2023Best Actor - FemaleEewai

Off-screen work

Tonthoi was the brand ambassador of Singju Festival, which is held every year between January and February, starting from the year 2017. Singju is a typical Meitei salad-type dish. The festival is held at different places, including MMRC and Unity Park, Khangabok and Lamdeng Makha Leikai Lampak.

Selected filmography

Feature Films
YearFilmRoleDirector
2007Nangna ThawainiThajaChan Heisnam
2009Shak Henba BhootNur JahanBishwamittra
2009PaachaaPanthoiBishwamittra
2009PaokhumKimboiBishwamittra
2010ThoichaThoichaNingthoujam Prem
2010Thasi ThanouMemthoiEepu
2011Phijigee ManiYaiphabeeO. Gautam
2011Nungshibee Kabaw ValleySucheJeetendra Ningomba
2011MongphamLinthoiLai Jiten
2011Eepaktuda The LakeThoiJohnson Mayanglambam
2011MiraangBimolaAribam Syam Sharma
2011Loibataare Ta RajuThoiPilu H.
2012LeipakleiLeipakleiAribam Syam Sharma
2012PhongdoknadringeiAyeengbiOC Meira
2013Beragee BombThoibiO. Gautam
2013Nangna Kappa PakchadeNungshitombiMakhonmani Mongsaba
2013Amamba SayonMemiJohnson Mayanglambam
2013Sanadi SananiLanglenKhoibam Homeshwori
2013Ani x Ani = MariThoiJeetendra Ningomba
2014PallepfamLembiWanglen Khundongbam
2014Ayekpa LaiThajaOken Amakcham
2014Eidee KadaidaRohiniO. Gautam
2014VDF ThasanaLaishnaHomen D' Wai
2015Patkee TharoOken Amakcham
2015Borxharanya Diganta Mazumdar
2015Keishal Jaildugi FadoksingLoya's friendSatyajit BK
2016Octabee NatteLeibakleiPaari Luwang
2016Eikhoi PabunggiSanatombiHemanta Khuman
2016Tharo ThambalThambalBijgupta Laishram
2017Iche TamphaTamphaBijgupta Laishram
2017Thoicha 3ThoichaJeetendra Ningomba
2017IshuAmbikaUtpal Borpujari
2018TomthinSanareiOjitbabu Ningthoujam
2018Chingda Satpi EngelleiPeringBobby Haobam
2018Won NamLeihaoMaipaksana Haorongbam
2019Eigi KonaNganthoiBobby Wahengbam & Maipaksana Haorongbam
2021RongdaifeLeinuBobby Haobam
2024Langdai AmaLeimaBinoranjan Oinam
Non-Feature Films
YearFilmRoleDirector
2012Mei IkpaThambalsangChaoba Thiyam
2015TanggoiBabina Salam
2017TinthrokYaima's wifeOken Amakcham
2021Panthougi LiklamThoibiRakesh Moirangthem
2022EewaiHenba's motherKhwairakpam Bishwamittra
2025Toy GunLeimaParshuram Thingnam