Bala Hijam

Surja Bala Hijam (9 Jun 1991, Imphal) better known as Bala Hijam (Meitei pronunciation: /ba-lā hī-jam/) is an Indian actress, who predominantly appears in Manipuri films.^[1][2] She is known for her roles in Boong, Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi, Yaiskulgee Pakhang Angaoba, Manipur Express, Sanagi Tangbal, Amukta Ani and Inamma. ^[3][4]

Bala Hijam
Bala Hijam in Amukta Ani (2014)
Born	Hijam Surjabala Devi Sagolband Salam Leikai
Occupation	Actress
Spouse	Ningthoujam Dinesh Singh
Parent(s)	Hijam Biramangol Hijam Suniti Devi

Career

Bala Hijam made her debut at the age of 15 in Oken Amakcham's Tellangga Mamei, through the reference of the cinematographer of the movie Irom Maipak.^[5] She started shooting for her Hindi film debut Zindagi on the Rocks, but was left incomplete due to some issues.^[6] Her notable role after her first film was in Romi Meitei's Khangdreda Nongdamba, where she played a supporting role alongside Kamala Saikhom. Panthungee Wangmada, directed by Yoimayai Mongsaba and produced under the banner Fly High Films was her first film in a leading role. Among her popular films, Yaiskulgee Pakhang Angaoba, Manipur Express, Meerang Mahum, Amukta Ani, Delhi Mellei, Sanagi Tangbal and Thabaton 2 may be mentioned.^[7] She played the role of a differently-abled lady in the movie Tamoyaigee Ebecha.

In 2018, she appeared in an educational film Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup?.^[8] She also featured in the short film Lembi Leima directed by Mayank Pratap Singh in 2022.^[9] In 2024, she played the role of Mandakini in Boong, an internationally acclaimed film that had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.^[10] Her performance as Mandakini was recognized by Screen Echoes Manipur as one of the Best 8 Performances in Manipuri Cinema In the Last Decade.^[11]

Accolades

Bala Hijam was honoured with different titles at several film awards and festivals.

Award	Category	Film	Ref.
5th RJ Film Vision Special Award 2011	Special Jury Award	–
8th Manipur State Film Festival 2013	Best Actress	Yaiskulgee Pakhang Angaoba
11th Manipur State Film Awards 2018	Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Female	Chinglen Sana	[12][13]
9th MANIFA 2020	Best Actor in a Leading Role - Female	Inamma	[14]
1st Northeast India International Film Festival 2022, Dimapur	Best Actress	Lembi Leima	[15]
Sitannavasal International Film Festival 2022			[16]
Thilsri International Film Festival 2023, Chennai
Golden Fern Films Award 2023
4th Empty Space International Short Film Festival 2024			[17]

Selected filmography

Year	Title	Role(s)	Director(s)	Notes	Ref.
2006	Tellangga Mamei	Bembem	Oken Amakcham	Child Artist, Debut film	[18]
2009	Khangdreda Nongdamba	Bala	Romi Meitei		[19]
	Panthungee Wangmada	Linthoi	Yoimayai Mongsaba
2010	Imagi Laman Singamdre	Niti	Romi Meitei		[20]
	Kadarmapee	Nungthil Chaibi	L. Prakash		[21]
	21st Century's Kunti	Kethabi	Joy Soram		[22]
2011	Hanggam Maru Pokkhaibi	Mitlaobi	L. Surjakanta		[23]
	Loibataare Ta Raju	Molly	Pilu H.
	Luhongbagi Ahing	Purnima	Bijgupta Laishram		[24]
	Yaiskulgee Pakhang Angaoba	Majaru	Homen D' Wai	Won Best Actress	[25]
2012	Taru Tarubi Maktabee	Maktabee	Tej Kshetri
	Mami	Lily	Jeetendra Ningomba		[26]
	Lamjasara	Fajarei	L. Prakash		[27]
	Manipur Express	Tampha	O. Gautam
	Lamkhai	Thadoi	Ningthoukhongjam Medhajeet
2013	Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi	Assi	Sameer Thahir	Malayalam Debut	[28][29]
	Mounao Thoibi	Thoibi	Romi Meitei		[30]
	Thajagee Maihing	Thaja			[31]
	Chow Chow Momo na haobara Shingju Bora na oinambara	Nungshitombi	RK Jiten		[32]
	Tamoyaigee Ebecha	Ebecha	Pilu H.		[33]
2014	Sathiba Danger	Sakhenbi	Ajit Ningthouja		[34]
	Sanagi Tangbal	Lingjelthoibi	Bijgupta Laishram		[35]
	Meerang Mahum	Nganthoi	Ajit Ningthouja		[36]
	23rd Century: Ngasigee Matungda	Thambal	Dinesh Tongbram		[37]
	Hoo Chaage	Leishilembi	Denny Likmabam
	Amukta Ani	Thoibi	Romi Meitei		[38]
	Thabaton 2	Nungsithoi	Bijgupta Laishram		[39]
	Delhi Mellei	Mellei	Ajit Ningthouja		[40]
2015	Toro	Thoibi	Kirmil Soraisam		[41]
	Da Lem	Sorinchon	Hemanta Khuman		[42]
	Nungshit Mapi	Thambal	Ajit Ningthouja		[43]
	Cheikhei	Sanatombi	Premkumar Paonam		[44]
	Angangba Mayek (Pizza 2)	Thanil	Dinesh Tongbram
	Eikhoi Pabunggi	Engellei	Hemanta Khuman		[45]
	Kum Kang Kum Kabi Chang	Tharo	Bishwamittra		[46]
2016	Moreh Maru	Bala	O. Gautam		[47]
	Tharo Thambal	Tharo	Bijgupta Laishram
	Khongfam	Tampha	Sudhir Kangjam
	Sor	Usha	Ajit Ningthouja		[48]
2017	Iche Tampha	Thadoi	Bijgupta Laishram		[49]
	Mitlu	Thaarlin	Gyaneshwor Konj		[50]
	Mani Mamou	Ningthibeees	Ajit Ningthouja		[51]
	Mr. Khadang	Thadoi	Chou En Lai		[52]
	Chinglen Sana	Langlen	Bijgupta Laishram	Best Actor - Supporting Role	[53]
	Kaongamdraba Facebook	Tampha	AK. Gyaneshori
2018	Sanagi Nga	Thaja	Romi Meitei		[54]
	Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup?	Herself	Priyakanta Laishram		[55]
	Ebungee Echal	Leibaklei	Hemanta Khuman
	Nungshibana Loire	Sana	Sadananda Salam
	Chanu IPS	Laija	Sanaton Nongthomba		[56]
	Yotpi	Yoihenbi	Romi Meitei		[57]
	Pari Imom	Sanatombi	Bijgupta Laishram		[58]
	Hidak Tombi	Tombi	Chou En Lai
2019	Kao Phaaba	Matouleibi	Ishomani
	Ichadi Manini	Yaiphabi	Geet Yumnam		[59]
	Inamma	Memtombi	Homeshwori	Won Best Actress at 9th MANIFA 2020	[60]
	Namase Chaphu Huranbini	Memsana	Herojit Naoroibam		[61]
	Wakchingi Len	Yaiphabi	Bijgupta Laishram		[62]
	Mutlamdai Thaomei	Thaballei	Sudhir Kangjam
	Thabaton 3	Nungsithoi	Bijgupta Laishram		[63]
	Chanu IPS 2	Laija	Sanaton Nongthomba		[64]
	Mamal Naidraba Thamoi	Nurei	Gyanand		[65]
	Eerei	Eethak	Krishnakumar Gurumayum		[66]
2020	Aronba Wari	Mainoubi	OC Meira		[67]
	15 August: A Love Story		Krishnand Ningombam
2022	Shamjabee	Nungsitombi	Premkumar Paonam
	Ningol	Tarubi	L. Surjakanta		[68]
	Wangma Wangmada	Actress	Kirmil Soraisam		[69]
	Lembi Leima	Surjabala	Mayank Pratap Singh		[70][71]
2024	Boong	Mandakini	Lakshmipriya Devi		[72]
	Laangoi	Henthoi	Manoranjan Longjam
2025	Nung Onkhraba Thamoi	Thoibi	Surjit Khuman