Priyakanta Laishram is an openly queer Manipuri filmmaker who boldly tackles unconventional and socially relevant topics in his movies. As an actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, film editor, and TV host, he has made a name for himself in Manipuri cinema. Priyakanta is a trailblazer, having created the first Manipuri film on same-sex relationships – Oneness, one of the first Indian films on men’s makeup and gender-neutral fashion – Who Said Boys Can’t Wear Makeup, and the first film from Northeast India based on male rape – The Foul Truth. His movies offer radical explorations of sexual orientation and gender identity, and they shed light on the problems and issues faced by marginalized communities and ordinary people. With 9 movies and 30+ film awards under his belt, Priyakanta is hailed as the “Torchbearer of Manipuri Queer Cinema” by the Northeast Now and “A Hidden Gem Of Manipuri Cinema” by The Frontier Manipur. Laishram’s passion for filmmaking started at a very young age. He made 3 films using a Nokia N70 mobile phone at the age of 9 and won several titles, including The Youngest Filmmaker 2009 from Nokia and Manipur’s Rising Star 2011 from Asian News International.
