Tonthoingambi Leishangthem, popularly known as Tonthoi, is an Indian film actress. She has established a career in Manipuri 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 Chingkhu, Khundrakpam, Manipur, India. She was born to Leishangthem Ibungomacha Singh and Leishangthem 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. She took a three-month acting class in the early month of 2007 under Oja Niladhaja Khuman. 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 , 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 filmBorsharanya 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. Leishangthem Tonthoi is the recipient of Best Actress of 6th RJ Film Vision Special Award 2011-2012 conferred by Film Academy Manipur. She was also given the Special Mention Award in the 7th State Film Festival 2010 for playing the role of Kimboi in Paokhum. 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 filmPatkee Tharo. She also won the Best Actress Award at the Prag Cine Awards - North East 2018 for her performance in the film Iche Tampha. She won the Special Jury Award for her filmIche Tampha at the 11th Manipuri State Film Awards 2018.
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 Manipur salad-type dish. The festival is held at different places, including MMRC and Unity Park, Khangabok and Lamdeng Makha Leikai Lampak.
