Trendsetter of Manipur queer cinema; veteran Priyakanta Laishram

In an industry where old-school directors refuse to embrace change and evolution, young Manipuri film director and actor Priyakanta Laishram is a rare creature. He is one such Manipuri film director, actor, writer, and film producer who has mastered the art of using cinema to expose social ills and vices.

Publicly humiliated, trolled, and threatened for constantly bringing up touchy subjects deemed either shameful or taboo, Manipur’s first openly gay filmmaker-actor Manipur Also behind the fan-based film, Oneness (2023). which is based on the tragic real-life story of a gay teenager. He intends to highlight the plight of homosexuals in conservative societies with the film.

Having supported a number of socially relevant projects, his films often offer radical investigations of sexual orientation and gender identity. The multi-award winning filmmaker/actor made waves in the Manipuri film industry with his films, It’s Not My Choice (2015), Who Said Boys Can’t Wear Make Up (2018), and The Foul Truth – Amakpa Achumba (2019). ), which dealt with either untouchable or socially uncomfortable topics such as transgender issues, gender neutrality and male rape. Since then, his choice of films has always been socially concerned with issues and problems faced by marginalized communities and common people.
Priyakanta Laishram started making films from mobile phone at the age of 9 (2006-2007). At the age of 11 (2009), he made three children’s films, Limuknavar, Achambadi Amarni, and Chan Thoibi. The former was shot on a mobile phone Nokia N70 while the latter was shot with a Sony Cybershot camera. He was awarded Youngest Filmmaker 2009 by Nokia, Rising Star of Manipur by Asian News International, and Youth Icon 2009 by Mongba Hanba Magazine.

Today, he is known for his flexible and unconventional film choices with several national and international film awards. Breaking into the world of filmmaking is never an easy prospect. And especially, when you’re a queer filmmaker who wants to focus on LGBTQ themes and live in a conservative society, the path to success is much greater.
“In order for the queer community to get the representation we so desperately need, we as a society need to correct past mistakes in representation and continue to strive to offer more nuanced and authentic queer experiences,” noted Priyakanta Laishram.
Priyakanta Laishram’s career proves that with guts, and determination, it is possible to make your way. He is the first Manipuri to defy the odds to attempt gay representation in mainstream cinema. Through his work, he strives to give people a compassionate understanding of marginalized communities. He believes that cinema is more powerful than any other classroom to raise awareness and can help normalize the LGBTQIA+ community.
Laishram, whose films have been screened at several international and national film festivals, is also open to expanding his scope beyond focusing on queer stories as he did with I’m Special (2017). What happened to the movies, which is a documentary-fiction film in six different ways. – Persons with Disabilities and the Spaced Out – Panthing the Kadaida! (2021), a film about teenage drug use.
Priyakanta Laishram holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media with specialization in Advertising from the University of Mumbai. He also holds a degree with honors in Sociology from Punjab University, Chandigarh. Currently, he is pursuing Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication at Amity University, Noida.