Maya Choudhury is an Indian actress who appears in Manipuri films. For her performance as Anna Martin in the 2024 film Oneness, she received the Best Supporting Actor (Female) award at the 17th Manipur State Film Awards in 2025, marking the first award of her career.
Some of her notable films are Basantagee Nongallamdai trilogy, Oneness, Meichak, Kunti, Mr. Lakhipyari, Liklaai, Tomthin Shija, Imoinu and Saklon Amada.
Career In 1998, Maya Choudhury made her acting debut in the celluloid film Meichak, directed by Laimayum Banka Sharma. Later that year, she participated in Miss Manipur 1998, where she was placed 2nd runner-up, winning 5 other subtitles. It was then followed by two other celluloid films before she got married.
She made her comeback to acting after marriage with films like Basantagee Nongallamdai and 21st Century's Kunti, for which she credited her husband and family for their support.
Maya's comeback in the industry is marked by Leikhamton and supporting roles in films like Imoinu, Tomthin Shija, Hiyai, and Pandam Amada, while the latter was selected for the 18th Dhaka International Film Festival 2019, the 18th Third Eye Asian Film Festival 2019, Mumbai and the Tokyo Lift-Off Film Festival 2020.
Notable Critical Response In 2024, Maya Choudhury appeared as a protagonist playing the role of Anna Martin in the film Oneness, directed by Priyakanta Laishram, which is the first Manipuri film to explore same-sex relationships. The film made its world premiere at South Asia's biggest queer film festival, KASHISH Pride Film Festival 2024, Mumbai and later got official selections and screened at the 14th Bangalore Queer Film Festival 2024, the 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival 2025, and the 2nd North East India Film Festival, Manipur. The film also got recommendations from Elle Magazine and Mid-Day.
Upon release, Maya got critical acclaim for her performance as Anna Martin. The Sangai Express praised her performance, writing that she "delivers one of her most powerful performances in ONENESS." Manipur Wiki penned, "Maya Choudhury shines as another stand out star of the film, delivering outstanding performances throughout." and stating that, "This performance is arguably the best of her career." E-Pao praised her performance, writing, "Maya's portrayal is both subtle and impactful, capturing the essence of a mother's love and resilience." Imphal Review of Arts and Politics described it as “perhaps the finest performance of her illustrious career”, praising her emotionally nuanced portrayal of a conflicted mother, considering her role as one of the strongest elements of the film, contributing significantly to its impact. Signpost News highlighted Maya Choudhury’s role as a key emotional anchor in Oneness, noting her “transformative arc” as one of the film’s most impactful elements.
She received her first pan-Northeast India nomination for Best Actress - Northeast at the Prag Cine Awards 2025 for her performance in the film. Her performance as Anna Martin in Oneness was recognized by Screen Echoes Manipur as one of the Best 8 Performances in Manipuri Cinema in the Last Decade.
At the 17th Manipur State Film Awards in 2025, she received the Best Supporting Actor (Female) award for Oneness. Presented by the Government of Manipur and the Manipur State Film Development Society, the award marked the first recognition in her 28-year-long acting career.
Accolades +AwardCategoryFilmResultRef. 17th Manipur State Film Awards 2025 Best Supporting Actor (Female) Oneness Prag Cine Awards 2025 Best Actress - Northeast Oneness 1st SSS MANIFA 2012 Best Actress Saklon Amada
Controversy In 2024, Maya Choudhury became the subject of online criticism and trolling following a promotional interview for the film Oneness. During the interview, she remarked she does not watch films in which she does not star, a statement that was misinterpreted and contributed to heightened backlash against the film. The controversy occurred amidst broader resistance to the film’s subject matter in Manipur.
Selected filmography Year Film Role Director1998MeichakLataL. Banka Sharma1999Aroiba BidaaiThadoiOken Amakcham2004Thajabagee WangmadaSarjuOken AmakchamPanthungeedara NungshibaAshaDiya Khwairakpam2005Nangtana HelliMonikaOken AmakchamMr. LakhipyariRadhaHomen D' Wai2006Eigi Salini Ma'am Salini ThapaVir Bhadra YumnamBasantagee NongallamdaiSarlaTej Kshetri2007Ujaningba ShaktamSarlaTej Kshetri2008Chatlabra Waarouna?ThajaKhwairakpam BishwamittraLiklaaiLiklaaiPilu H.NingthemPanthoiKhwairakpam BishwamittraLanmei ThanbiDr. MemiChou En Lai & O. Mangi2009Lonthoktabagee WariLeihaoDiya KhwairakpamLeikang ThambalThambalTej KshetriUtaangbiRadhaRomi Meitei2010Imphal NingolLeibakleiBijgupta LaishramPiranglakta Manglan AmaDr. ChongnuKhangembam KuleswarLambidudeiDr. LinthoiK. Bimal SharmaKanadanoLingjel's sisterI.S. GurungSaklon AmadaMemthoiL. SurjakantaMeiree Natte LiklaniLanjenbiAmar RajAhing MameiLeimaBimol PhibouOooh...! The Great - Thawangee PurnimaPurnimaL. Prakash21st Century's KuntiRajlakshmiJoy SoramNungshibee TakhelleiLinthoiAmar RajTorban Amagi WariPhajabiNiladhwaja Khuman2011Mellei Leishna TharikthaLeishnaAmar RajMomon MeenokTharikthaKsh. KishorekumarFried Fish, Chicken Soup and a Premiere ShowHerselfMamta Murthy2014LeikhamtonLeikhamTej Kshetri2015ImoinuLeimarembiBijgputa LaishramShajik ThabaSanarembi's motherOjitbabu Ningthoujam2017Tomthin Shija Dr. Ayingbi ShijaBobby Haobam2018HiyaiLeimaHerojit Naoroibam2019Pandam AmadaYaiphabiO. Gautam2020Aronba WariYaiphabi's motherOC Meira2022Imoinu 2LeimarembiBijgupta LaishramLaija LembiTamphaSudhir Kangjam2024OnenessAnna MartinPriyakanta LaishramKhomlang LamanChinglen's motherOC MeiraUpcomingLaija Lembi 2TamphaSudhir Kangjam
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