He was instrumental in putting Manipur in the map of World Cinema with his film Imagi Ningthem in 1982. Born in 1936, his first love as a child was music and later he became a pioneer in Manipuri modern music. He is a prolific composer with many songs which have become classics in his own life-time. He is also recognized as a music director. He was actively involved in the avante-garde theatre movement in Manipur theatre as an actor and director.