Priyakanta Laishram
Priyakanta Laishram (Born 07 November, 1996), better known as Priyakanta Thoi Laishramis an Indian actor, film director, film producer, writer and film editor from the Meitei ethnicity of Imphal, Manipur who predominantly works in Manipuri films. He is a recipient of several awards at several film festivals organised in India and abroad. [1] [2]
He is the first openly queer Manipuri filmmaker and best known for Oneness, the first gay-themed film of Manipur,Northeast India. [3] He is the first filmmaker to make the first mainstream Manipuri film that deals with same-sex relationship and sexual identity. [4] [5]
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 are some of his notable films.
Early Life & Education
Priyakanta Laishram was born on November 07, 1996 in the Imphal East district of Manipur, into a Meitei family. His father, Harendra Laishram is an MPS (Manipur Police Service) Officer and his mother, (Late) Jibanlata Laishram, was an actress. He has one elder sister Caroline Laishram, who is a renowned fashion designer. His mother passed away due to Amyotrophic Lateral Scherosis in 2016 after fighting for 4 years.
He started making films at the age of 9 by using a mobile phone. He released his first children short film Lammuknarure in 2007 when he was 11 years old. It was followed by another two children films, Achumbadi Amarni and Chan-Thoibi. All these movies were made by using Nokia N70 mobile phone and Sony Cybershot camera. He was awarded Youngest Filmmaker 2009by CNN Mobiles. Asian News International cited him as Manipur’s Rising Star and he went on to feature on Reuters as One Of The Youngest Filmmakers Of India. [6]
He completed his Bachelor of Mass Media from Mumbai University and also got a degree in Sociology Honours from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Currently, he is pursuing Master in Journalism and Mass Communication at Amity University, Noida.
Career
Priyakanta Laishram is best known today for his socially relevant and critically acclaimed films like The Foul Truth, It’s Not My Choice, I am Special, Who Said Boys Can’t Wear Make Up, Spaced Out – Panthung Di Kadaaida! and Oneness. He goes all out in laying bare the triumphs and tribulations of the LGBTQI+ community and other minorities. Laishram leaves no stone unturned when it comes to highlighting untouched social issues which are either considered “taboo” or “shameful”. Breaking several barriers with his mere perspective and changing the queer narrative with his thought-provoking scripts, he is considered as one of the hidden gems of Manipuri Cinema.
His films had been screened at various national and international film festivals and bagged numerous awards for every film. He takes time in making a film giving it time to develop fully as he makes films based on the numerous striking incidents he encounters.
Being the first filmmaker from North East India to make a film on gender neutral fashion – “Who Said Boys Can’t Wear Make Up” (2018) and the first Manipuri filmmaker to make Manipur’s first gay-themed movie – “ONENESS” (2022), Priyakanta Laishram has cemented his place at the vanguard of the queer cinema movement. The voices in most of his films represent this generation’s tenacity, curiosity, empathy, optimism and hope, redefining and representing the world through a prism of fluidity. [7]
Priyakanta Laishram’s forthcoming film ONENESS (2023) is the first gay-themed movie in Manipur, North East India. [8]
Filmography
- Lammuknarure (2009)
- Achumbadi Amarni (2009)
- Chan-Thoibi (2009)
- It's Not My Choice (2015)
- I am Special (2017)
- Who Said Boys Can't Wear Make Up (2018)
- The Foul Truth - Amakpa Achumba (2018)
- Spaced Out - Panthung Di Kadaaida! (2021)
- Oneness (2023)
External Pages
- IMDb - [[9]]
- KLMDb - [[10]]
- Facebook - [[11]]
- Instagram - [[12]]
- YouTube - [[13]]
