Renowned Manipuri filmmaker, actor, and editor Priyakanta Laishram has been honored with the Best Film Editor award for his groundbreaking debut feature film Oneness at the prestigious 8th Sailadhar Baruah Film Awards (Northeast) 2025.
The results were officially announced recently, celebrating cinematic excellence across Northeast India.The award highlights Priyakanta Laishram’s exceptional technical skill in editing Oneness, a 2024 Manipuri film that marks a historic milestone as the region’s first mainstream feature to explore same-sex relationships and sexual identity.
Inspired by a true story of tragedy involving a young queer individual, the film follows 18-year-old protagonist Ivan Martin, played by Laishram himself as he navigates love, family rejection, and societal intolerance.
Produced on a modest budget under Priyakanta Productions, Oneness has earned widespread acclaim for its bold themes, emotional depth, and raw performances.
It premiered at the KASHISH Pride Film Festival in Mumbai and has screened at various festivals, receiving a perfect 5/5 rating from critics who called it “a brave, pioneering triumph in Manipuri cinema.”
Priyakanta Laishram, a 27-year-old talent from Imphal who began filmmaking at age 9 using a mobile phone, expressed deep gratitude for the recognition.
This marks his first win in the Best Film Editor category, adding to previous accolades for the film, including Best Director (Northeast) at the Prag Cine Awards 2025 and a Special Jury Award at the 17th Manipur State Film Awards.
The Sailadhar Baruah Film Awards, held to promote aesthetic, technical, and socially relevant cinema from the Northeast, featured other notable winners such as Apot (Khasi) for Best Film and Bhaskar Jyoti Kalita for Best Art Director.
Despite facing challenges and controversies in Manipur due to its progressive themes, Oneness continues to spark important conversations on inclusivity and representation. Priyakanta Laishram’s win highlights the rising prominence of diverse, courageous voices in Northeast Indian cinema.
Signpost News is an Imphal-based media house that focuses on delivering news and views from Northeast India and beyond.