Priyakanta Laishram

Priyakanta Laishram (born 7 November 1996) is an Indian actor, film director, film producer, writer, and film editor from the Meitei ethnicity of Imphal, Manipur who predominantly appears in Manipuri films, known for his socially relevant movies. He is the first 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 and sexual identity. 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.

Priyakanta Laishram
Born
Priyakanta Thoi Laishram

(1996-11-07) 7 November 1996
Imphal East, Manipur, India
Alma materAmity University, Noida
Occupation(s)Actor, Film Director, Film Producer, Writer, Film Editor
Years active2009 – present
Parent(s)Harendra Laishram (father)
Jibanlata Laishram (mother)

Early life and education

He was born on 7 November 1996 in the Imphal East district of Manipur, into a Meitei family.[1] 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.

Career

He started making short films when he was 9 years old by using a mobile phone. At the age of 11, his first children's film, Lammuknarure was released.[2] He is known for making films on taboo subjects such as child abuse, male rape, LGBTQ issues, gender neutrality, and drug menace.[3]

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. His movie Who Said Boys Can't Wear Make Up released in 2018 and The Foul Truth released in 2019 poked the Manipuri society.[4]

In 2021, his film Spaced Out - Panthung Di Kadaaida was released based on the topic teen drug abuse which was acclaimed by the critics.[5] Oneness is the first gay-themed movie of Manipur, North East India, that is going to release in 2023 under his direction.[3] The movie is based on the alleged honor-killing of a Manipuri gay youth.[4] The film stars Maya Choudhury, Priyakanta Laishram, and Suraj Ngashepam in the lead roles.[6]

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.[2]

Filmography
Year Title Note
2009 Lammuknarure
Achumbadi Amarni
Chan-Thoibi
2015 It's Not My Choice
2017 I am Special
2018 Who Said Boys Can't Wear Make Up
2019 The Foul Truth
2021 Spaced Out - Panthung Di Kadaaida
2023 Oneness

Talk-show
  • 2020: Up-Close With Priyakanta Laishram

Awards
  • 2009: The Youngest Film Maker by Nokia CNN Mobiles[7]
  • Manipur's Rising Star by Asian News International[3]

References
  1. "Priyakanta Laishram Manipur First Openly Queer Filmmaker By Brainee Hijam". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  2. "A Manipur film tackles sexual identity for first time". The Indian Express. 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  3. "Priyakanta Laishram: A Hidden Gem of Manipuri Cinema - The Frontier Manipur". 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  4. "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.
  5. "SPACED OUT – Panthung Di Kadaaida : A meaningful Manipuri flick on teen drug abuse - The Frontier Manipur". 2022-11-26. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  6. EastMojo, Team (2022-12-29). "Priyakanta and Suraj: Meet Manipur's first onscreen gay couple". EastMojo. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  7. "Manipuri Cinema needs content improvement, says state's first gay-themed movie director Priyakanta Laishram". India Today NE. 2022-12-31. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.