Adaptation of Manipuri Phunga Wari in the Digital Age: A Study of Keibu Keioiba, an Animated Feature Film Based on Meitei Folklore.
| Author |
| Adison Moirangthem, & Jaya Thoidingjam |
| Date of Publication: June, 2026 |
| Volume: XXVI, No.- XXIX |
| DOI:10.65734/tgi.ssei.avp.ijcsss.ti.26.29.15 |
| Abstract |
| Manipuri folktales, also known as Phunga Wari, are considered one of the most significant forms of oral narratives of the Meitei community. These tales play an important role in transmitting moral and traditional ethos to the young children since time immemorial. Traditionally narrated by elderly people, these tales have served as the foundation for imparting cultural and educational values to the younger generation. Folktales, as a dynamic tradition, have evolved over time highlighting advancement in technology and social patterns. With the advent of digital technology, the narrative medium of Phunga Wari has expanded to different formats, helping in wider dissemination. In the digital medium, Phunga Wari, once preserved and transmitted orally, are now adapted into print, broadcast and digital media. These platforms have expanded the reach of these tales beyond geographical territories while enhancing accessibility and preservation of this age-old oral Meitei storytelling practice. In the digital world, these tales are no longer narrated around the kitchen fire. This article explores the evolution of Phunga Wari from oral to digital. By analyzing the adaptation of one of the famous Meitei folktales, “Keibu Keioba” this study examines how digital media serves as an archive for the preservation and transmission of Meitei culture, presenting it to today’s generation in a more accessible and appealing way. This paper also argues that digital adaptation is not merely a survival strategy but a necessary evolution for preserving and disseminating Meitei cultural heritage in a fast-changing world. |
| View Full Article |
