Imphal: Prominent Manipuri actor and filmmaker Priyakanta Laishram’s highly acclaimed 2015 short film “It’s Not My Choice” is set to be adapted into Thai, marking the first Indian short film to receive such an honour.
The film, which shed light on transgender issues and featured Miss International Queen India 2016, Bishesh Huirem, has garnered praise and recognition at various film festivals since its release. It also became the first short film from Northeast India to reach one lakh views and one million views on YouTube in 2017.
The news was shared by Thai filmmaker Tim Chaiyasing, who attended the screening at Rajabhat University in Thailand and was captivated by its message. Chaiyasing, a newcomer to the industry, expressed his excitement about adapting the film into his native tongue, citing the many parallels between Manipuri and Thai cultures.
“There are a lot of parallels between Manipuri and Thai cultures, traditions, lifestyles, and eating customs. I’m not surprised that this movie got to me. I’ve been thinking about the movie ever since I saw it, and I deeply want to adapt it to my native tongue and culture because I noticed a lot of parallels between Manipuri culture and my own,” Chaiyasing said.
The story “It’s Not My Choice (Manipuri: Eina Khankhiba Natte)” follows the struggles of Sanathoi, a young transgender individual who faces denial of education, mistreatment, and bullying from those around her. Despite the adversity, Sanathoi’s journey is of resilience and self-empowerment as she embraces her true identity and fights for her rights.
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The film’s initial premiere was held at Jubilee Hall, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal on September 1, 2015, after which it was screened at various universities and film festivals. It was later premiered on YouTube on January 15, 2017, where it received a substantial amount of attention and positive feedback from fans.
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