Priyakanta Laishram

Priyakanta Laishram (Born 7 November 1998) is an Indian actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and film editor from the Meitei ethnicity of Imphal, Manipur who predominantly appears in Manipuri films, known for his socially relevant and unconventional movies. He is an openly queer Manipuri filmmaker known for Oneness, the first gay-themed film of Manipur, Northeast India. He is the first filmmaker to make the first mainstream Manipuri film dealing with same-sex relationships. He started making children's films at the age of 9 by using a Nokia N70 mobile phone, for which he won several titles including The Youngest Filmmaker 2009 from Nokia and Manipur's Rising Star 2011 from Asian News International.

Priyakanta Laishram
Born
Priyakanta Thoi Laishram

(1998-11-07) 7 November 1998
Imphal East, Manipur, India
Alma materUniversity of Mumbai
Amity University, Noida
Occupation(s)Actor, Film Director, Film Producer, Writer, Film Editor
Years active2009–present
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Parent(s)Harendra Laishram
Jibanlata Laishram

Some of his movies are It's Not My Choice, I am Special, The Foul Truth, Spaced Out - Panthung Di Kadaaida!, Who Said Boys Can't Wear Make Up, and Oneness.

Early life and education

He was born on 7 November 1998 in the Imphal East district of Manipur, into a Meitei family. His father Harendra Laishram is a Manipur Police Officer and his mother Jibanlata Laishram was an actress. His elder sister Caroline Laishram is a fashion designer.[1]

At Mumbai University, Laishram earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media with a concentration in Advertising. He also holds an honours degree in Sociology from Chandigarh's Panjab University. He is presently enrolled in Amity University, Noida to pursue a Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication. [2]

Career

2007-2011: Mobile phone filmmaking.
Laishram in 2009, at the age of 11 receiving a Nokia award from the then IPS Officer Thokchom Radheshyam.

Priyakanta Laishram started making short films when he was 9 years old by using a mobile phone, Nokia N70. At the age of 11, his first full length children's film, Lammuknarure was released in 2009.[3] Later that year, he directed two more children's films, Achumbadi Amarni, shot on Nokia N70 and Chan-Thoibi shot on Sony Cyber-shot camera. He received recognition as Manipur's Rising Star by Asian News International, The Youngest Filmmaker 2009 by Nokia, and Youth Icon 2009 by Mongba Hanba Magazine.[2][4]

Laishram in 2007, at the age of 9 shooting his short film on Nokia N70.

2015-present: Socially relevant and unconventional films.

He is now recognized for making films on taboo subjects such as child abuse, male rape, LGBTQ issues, gender neutrality, and drug menace.[5]

In 2015, he directed It's Not My Choice, a film based on transgenders, starring Bishesh Huirem, the first Indian representative at Miss International Queen 2016. For the movie, he was also featured in Gaylaxy Magazine.[6] The film was cited by the critics as "One of the most impactful films on transgender visibility". [7]

I am Special, a documentary-fiction movie he directed, was released in 2017. The true narrative of six differently-abled persons served as the basis for the film. [2]

Later in the year, he featured in the Kangana Ranaut starrer The Bollywood Diva, a music video produced by All India Bakchod and directed by Tanmay Bhat. [8]

His 2018 movie Who Said Boys Can't Wear Make Up was the first film from the entire Northeast India to deal with gender neutral fashion and men's make-up, for which he won Best Multimedia Influencer Award in Mumbai. Apart from boys and men who wear make-up and gender neutral clothes in real life, Thounaojam Strela Luwang, Bala Hijam, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia, Peden Ongmu Namgyal (Miss Diva Supranational 2017) and other renowned faces were also featured in the film. [9]

His next movie was The Foul Truth in 2019. The film was about a boy who is a survivor of male rape and child sexual abuse. The film is also known for being the first film from Northeast India to accentuate the hidden truth about male rape. [10] Laishram played the role of a sexual assault survivor in the movie, which earned him critical acclaim for his performance. [11] The film received rave reviews for its theme, direction, dialogues and performances. [12]

In 2020, his talk-show Up-Close With Priyakanta Laishram was released on his YouTube channel, that raises various social issues including those pertaining to gender and LGBTQ.[3] Later that year, he featured on Delhi's first queer literature festival, Digital & One : Rainbow Lit Festival 2020 as one of the panelists. [13]

In 2021, his film Spaced Out - Panthung Di Kadaaida based on the topic of teen drug abuse was released and acclaimed by the critics.[14]

His 2023 feature film Oneness is the first gay-themed movie of Manipur and it will be released in 2023 under his direction.[5] The movie is based on a tragic true story a Manipuri gay youth.[11] Alongside Priyakanta, the film stars Maya Choudhury and Suraj Ngashepam in the lead roles.[15]

Filmography
Year Title Note
2009 Lammuknarure A children's film shot on Nokia N70 mobile phone.
Achumbadi Amarni His second children's film shot on Nokia N70 mobile phone.
Chan-Thoibi A children's film shot on Sony Cyber-shot camera.
2015 It's Not My Choice A film on the issues of transgender.
2017 I am Special A docufiction film on differently-abled people.
2017 The Bollywood Diva A music video by All India Bakchod.
2018 Who Said Boys Can't Wear Make Up First film from Northeast India to deal with gender neutral fashion and men's make-up.
2019 The Foul Truth A film on male rape and child sexual abuse.
2021 Spaced Out - Panthung Di Kadaaida A film on teen substance abuse and its circumstances.
2023 Oneness Manipur's first film based on same-sex relationship.

Talk show
Year Title Platform
2020 Up-Close With Priyakanta Laishram YouTube

Honors
Year Title
2009 The Youngest Filmmaker by Nokia CNN Mobiles. [4]
2009 Youth Icon by Mongba Hanba Magazine. [2]
2011 Manipur's Rising Star by Asian News International. [5]

References
  1. "Priyakanta Laishram Manipur First Openly Queer Filmmaker By Brainee Hijam". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  2. "Priyakanta Laishram: Torchbearer of Manipur queer cinema". Northeast Now. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  3. "A Manipur film tackles sexual identity for first time". The Indian Express. 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  4. "Manipuri Cinema needs content improvement, says state's first gay-themed movie director Priyakanta Laishram". India Today NE. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  5. "Priyakanta Laishram: A Hidden Gem of Manipuri Cinema - The Frontier Manipur". 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  6. "In Conversation with Priyakanta Laishram, A Young Manipuri Filmmaker". Gaylaxy Magazine. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  7. "It's Not My Choice (Eina Khankhiba Natte) An Impactful Manipuri Film On Transgender Visibility". e-pao.net. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  8. "8 Actors From Manipur Who Featured In Malayalam, Hindi, and Assamese Movies and Series". e-pao.net. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  9. "Priyakanta Laishram's Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup Is No Less Than A Revolution". e-pao.net. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  10. Gurumayum, William (11 December 2021). "Priyakanta Laishram's THE FOUL TURTH - AMAKPA ACHUMBA Speaks On The Evil Truth - "MALE RAPE"". Imphal Times. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  11. "Priyakanta Laishram "ONENESS" is all set to reveal the invisible crime of Gay Honor Killing (Manipur's first Gay themed movie)". India Today NE. 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  12. "The Foul Truth - Amakpa Achumba :: Review". e-pao.net. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  13. "Rainbow Lit Fest –Digital & One". Rainbow Literature Festival. Retrieved 10 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. "SPACED OUT – Panthung Di Kadaaida : A meaningful Manipuri flick on teen drug abuse - The Frontier Manipur". 2022-11-26. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  15. EastMojo, Team (2022-12-29). "Priyakanta and Suraj: Meet Manipur's first onscreen gay couple". EastMojo. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
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