Bishesh Huirem

Last updated
Bishesh Huirem
Bishesh Huirem in 2022 at the trailer launch of ONENESS.jpg
Bishesh Huirem at the trailer launch of Oneness
Born
Imphal, Manipur [1]
Nationality Indian
Occupation(s)actor, costume designer, fashion designer, model, salonnière
Known for
  • first Indian transgender to represent her country in international beauty pageant
  • first Indian transgender to be appointed as a state icon in parliamentary elections
  • first Manipuri transgender to win Best Actor Award
Parents
  • Manglem Huirem (father)
  • Khomdonbi Huirem (mother)

Bishesh Huirem is an Indian actress and model from the Meitei ethnicity of Manipur. She is best known for being the first Indian to represent India at the Miss International Queen for Transgender 2016 organised in Pattaya, Thailand. [2] [3] [4] [5] She is the first Indian transgender to be appointed as a state icon for the parliamentary polls in the Lok Sabha elections. [6] [7] She is the first transgender to win the "Best Actor Award" in the 14th Manipur State Film Awards, 2022. [8] [9] It's Not My Choice directed by Priyakanta Laishram and Apaiba Leichil directed by Bobby Wahengbam are some of her notable films.

Contents

Film career

Bishesh Huirem started her career in Shumang Kumhei, a popular theater form of Manipur. [10] Later, she debuted in Manipuri films with 2012 Manipuri feature film Ang Tamo, alongside Kaiku Rajkumar. [11]

In 2015, she starred in It's Not My Choice , written and directed by Priyakanta Laishram. [12] The critics praised her performance, describing it as the best of her career. [13] [14] The Sangai Express wrote, "Bishesh Huirem, the protagonist, delivers her career's finest performance in this film. Despite her extensive experience in Sumaang Kumhei plays and two feature films, her portrayal of teenager Sanathoi is truly exceptional. Unlike her other movies, where she tends to go overboard, she flawlessly captures the emotions in the most genuine way in this film." [15] She received Special Jury Mention Award for her performance at the 2015 Highland Independent Film Festival in Shimla, and Honourable Mention at the 2017 Riverdale International Short Film Festival. [13] The film became the first Indian film to be adapted into Thai and the first short film from Northeast India to surpass one million views on YouTube. [16]

In 2022, she won Best Actor Award at 14th Manipur State Film Awards 2022 for the film Apaiba Leichil, becoming the first transgender actor to win the title. [17] She also won Special Jury Award at 5th Sailadhar Baruah Film Awards (NE) 2022. [18]

2016 Apology Demand Incident

On 13 September 2016, Bishesh Huirem was allegedly beaten up by the personal security guards and armed personnel of Rural Development Minister Moirangthem Okendra in Imphal, Manipur. [19] [20] [21] [22] The incident happened in a road rage at around 10 pm during night. [23] [24] Consequently, Bishesh protested and served an ultimatum to Minister Okendra to apologize for the incident within seven days or face outcomes. However, the officials of the Minister rejected her claim over the incident. According to them, Bishesh was driving “dead drunk” and was even not able to reverse her car which was blocking the minister's security escorts. Further, the minister's officials said that Bishesh was throwing tantrums claiming she had the right to drive and even attempted to forcibly open the minister's vehicle's door. In response, Bishesh denied all the claims from the minister's officials as "baseless charges". She denied she was drunk. She clarified that she was not even consuming salt and oil in her diet for her hormone therapy in a preparation for a beauty contest. Shocked by the incident, she was hospitalized. The associations and organizations of various artistes banned all mobile theatres, films and music programmes in the Heirok Assembly constituency (Minister Okendra's associated Constituency) until and unless he apologized. [25] [26] [23]

Filmography

YearTitleDirectorStudio
2012Ang TamoPilu HeigrujamPilu Films
2015 It's Not My Choice Priyakanta Laishram Priyakanta Productions
2021 Apaiba Leichil Bobby WahengbamThird Eye

Selected Shumang Kumhei Plays

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinema of Manipur</span> Indian filmmaking in Manipur

The Cinema of Manipur is the film industry based in Manipur, India. It includes not only Meitei language movies but all the films made in different languages of the different communities in Manipur. The Manipuri film industry was born when Matamgi Manipur by Debkumar Bose was released on 9 April 1972. From Aribam Syam Sharma's Paokhum Ama, the first colour Manipuri film (1983), M.A Singh's Langlen Thadoi, the first full-length colour Manipuri film (1984) to Oken Amakcham's Lammei, the first Manipuri digital film (2002), Manipuri cinema, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, has grown in both its form and culture.

<i>Matamgi Manipur</i> 1972 Indian film

Matamgi Manipur is a 1972 Manipuri film and the first full-length cinema of Manipur. The movie is directed by Debkumar Bose and produced by Karam Monomohan, under the banner of K.T. Films Private Limited. The black and white film features Gurumayum Ravindra Sharma and Yengkhom Roma in the lead roles. Arambam Samarendra wrote the story and screenplay by Debkumar Bose. The film won the President's Medal at the 20th National Film Awards. It is an adaptation of Arambam Samarendra's theatrical play Tīrtha Yātrā.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurumayum Bonny</span>

Gurumayum Bonny Sharma is an Indian actor and singer who predominantly appears in Manipuri films. He is famous for movies 'Yaiskul Pakhang Angaoba', 'Beragee Bomb', 'Mr Khadang'. He is a resident of Keishamthong Maning Longjam Leikai, Imphal, Manipur. He has also worked in the Shumang Kumheis including Kunti series, Nongallamdaisida, Opium War, and Pizza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. K. Binodini Devi</span> Indian writer

Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi was a writer from the Northeastern Indian state of Manipur. She wrote in Meiteilon under the mononym Binodini. She was best known for her 1976 historical novel Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi, which won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1979. Its English translation, ThePrincess and the Political Agent, was published as a Penguin Modern Classic in 2020 by Penguin Random House India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romi Meitei</span> Screenwriter,lyricist and director

Romi Meitei is an Indian film director, screenwriter and lyricist who works in Manipuri films. He is a recipient of several awards at film festivals organized in India and abroad, including a National Film Award.

Shumang Kumhei, also known as Shumang Leela, is a Meitei traditional form of theatre, usually performed in Manipur, North East India. The theatre is arranged in the form of open air from four sides. The roles are all played by male actors, some dressed as beautiful ladies. The role of male characters are played by female artists in case of female theatre groups. This traditional theatre form was prevalent since the time of monarchical rule in Manipur. But the proper form of Shumang Leela had its inception in 1895 A.D.

<i>Inamma</i> 2019 Manipuri film

Inamma is a 2019 Manipuri film directed by Homeshwori and produced by Takhellambam Chandrakumar, under the banner of Home Films. The movie stars Bala Hijam in the title role. The other leading actors in the movie are Gokul Athokpam, Gurumayum Bonny, Devita Urikhinbam, Shilheiba Ningthoujam and Biju Ningombam. It was premiered at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), Imphal on 14 September 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinglen Thiyam</span> Shumang Leela artist, comedian, lyricist, and director (1950–2020)

Chinglen Thiyam was an actor, comedian, lyricist and director of Shumang Kumhei theatre in Manipur. He had acted in over 100 plays and directed around 20 plays. Thiyam had also acted in many Manipuri films. He was popularly known as Commando Chinglen from the Shumang Leela Thawaina Punshigidamak. Not only in digital films, but he had also acted in Manipuri celluloid movies. He was conferred with the Iboyaima Shumang Leela Award in 2020 for his profound contribution in Shumang Leela. Wari Loidri, Khomlang Laman, Thawaina Punshigidamak, Sanagi Nga, Keishamthong Thoibi were some of the famous plays where he acted.

<i>Aronba Wari</i> 2020 Indian film

Aronba Wari is a 2020 Manipuri film directed by OC Meira and produced by Rajkumari Nalini Devi, under the banner of Seuti Films. It stars Shilheiba Ningthoujam, Suraj Ngashepam, Bala Hijam and Sushmita Mangsatabam in the lead roles. The movie is based on Sarungbam Binodini Devi's novel Minoktugi Marumda. It was initially slated to be released on 21 March 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was premiered on 11 October 2020 at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Imphal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huirem Seema</span> Indian actress

Huirem Seema was an Indian actress from Imphal, Manipur. She had appeared in more than 100 Manipuri films. As a producer, she had four Manipuri digital films to her credit. She was best known for her roles in movies like Kanaga Hinghouni, Chang Shi Chang, Lakhipurgi Lakhipyari, Naoshum, Yumleima Lamleima and Thasi Thanou. Two films where she acted, namely Yenning Amadi Likla (feature) and Ngaihak Lambida (non-feature) made entries into the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India.

<i>Nine Hills One Valley</i> 2021 Indian film

Nine Hills One Valley is a 2021 Indian Manipuri-Tangkhul bilingual film conceptualized and directed by Haobam Paban Kumar. It is produced by Warepam Jhansirani and Haobam Paban Kumar for Oli Pictures. The movie was among 19 feature films selected for Film Bazaar Recommends (FBR) section of the Film Bazaar 2020. It was premiered at the 16th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2021, Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Wahengbam</span> Indian film director

Bobby Wahengbam is an Indian filmmaker, producer, writer and film critic known for his works in Manipuri films. He is the recipient of several accolades, including two National Film Awards. As a film critic, he contributed regularly for local and national newspapers for the last two decades, where some of his writings have been translated into other languages as well. Now, he regularly writes as a cinema critic for The People's Chronicle, a local English daily, every Sunday.

<i>Eikhoigi Yum</i> 2022 Indian film

Eikhoigi Yum is a 2021 Manipuri film directed by Romi Meitei. It is jointly produced by Sheetal Chingsu and Romi Meitei under the banner of Thangarakpa Living Frames. The film got official selection at the 22nd Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2022. It was the opening film at the 1st Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival 2022. The film was certified by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2021. The film won National Film Award For Best Film In Meiteilon at the 69th National Film Awards.

<i>Apaiba Leichil</i> 2021 Indian film

Apaiba Leichil is a 2021 Manipuri film directed by Bobby Wahengbam. It is jointly produced by Wahengbam Tomba, Hanjabam Sobhananda (Bung) Sharma and Bobby Wahengbam under the banner of Third Eye Productions. The film is based on the short story Nungshibagi Saklon (Nungsitombi) by Rajmani Ayekpam. It stars Bishesh Huirem and Arun Yumnam in the lead roles. The film won three awards at the 14th Manipur State Film Awards 2022. It got official selections at the 18th International Film Festival of Thrissur 2023, Kerala Kashish International Queer Film Festival 2023, Mumbai.

<i>Larei Lathup</i> 2021 Indian film

Larei Lathup is a 2021 Manipuri film written and directed by Ojitbabu Ningthoujam. It stars Shilheiba Ningthoujam and Ithoi Oinam in the lead roles. The film was premiered at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) on 13 November 2021. It was the opening film (fiction) at the Festival of Cinemas of Manipur 2022, a 15-day long multi-lingual film festival organised by MSFDS in April 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manipuri Language Day</span> Annual event dedicated to Meitei language

Manipuri Language Day, is an annual celebration of the Manipuri (Meitei) language in India and Bangladesh on 20 August. It is the day in 1992 on which Manipuri was added to the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India, making it one of the official languages of India.

Khwairakpam Bishwamittra is an Indian film director, actor and script writer who works in theatre and Manipuri films. He first appeared on silver screen in the 1996 hit film Kanaga Hinghouni, where he co-directed with Chan Heisnam. Some of the famous films he directed include Kaorage, Torei and Sur Da Ngaojabee. He is also a renowned playwright of Manipuri Shumang Leelas and stage plays produced by AIR Imphal and Doordarshan DDK Imphal. As of 2022, his non-feature Eewai got official selection at the 4th Nepal Cultural International Film Festival 2022. Eewai was screened at the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival in Short and Documentary Panorama section on 19 and 21 December 2022 at Nandan-III and Sichir Mancha, Kolkata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Priyakanta Laishram</span> Indian actor, director

Priyakanta Laishram is an Indian actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and film editor from the Meitei ethnicity of Imphal, Manipur who predominantly works in Manipuri films, known for his socially relevant and unconventional movies. He is the first filmmaker to make the first mainstream film of Manipur, Northeast India, dealing with same-sex relationships, Oneness (film). He started making children's films at the age of 9 by using a Nokia N70 mobile phone, for which he won several titles including The Youngest Filmmaker 2009 from Nokia and Manipur's Rising Star 2011 from Asian News International.

<i>Its Not My Choice</i> 2015 Manipuri film based on transgender issues

It's Not My Choice is a 2015 Manipuri film written and directed by Priyakanta Laishram and produced by Harendra Laishram under the banner of Priyakanta Productions. Starring Bishesh Huirem, Ithoi Oinam, and Chakpram Idhou, the film tells the story of a young transgender Sanathoi who is deprived of her basic rights. The film was released on 1 September 2015, in Imphal at the Regional Institute Of Medical Sciences and screened at 25 film festivals. The film is the first Indian short film to be adapted in Thai and the first short film from Northeast India to surpass 1 lakh views and 1 million views on YouTube.

References

  1. ↑ "Manipuri transgender to represent India at international beauty pageant". Hindustan Times. 2016-09-24. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  2. ↑ "Bishesh Huirem becomes first Indian transgender to compete in Miss International Beauty Queen". Firstpost. 2016-09-09. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  3. ↑ "Meet Bishesh Huirem - The first Indian transgender woman at 'Miss International Beauty Queen' contest - SheThePeople TV" . Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  4. ↑ "Transgender Actress from Manipur to Represent India at Prestigious Beauty Pageant in Thailand". The Better India. 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  5. ↑ "Manipur beauty who will represent India at world's largest transgender pageant, doesn't have funds to sponsor trip". India Today. September 15, 2016. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  6. ↑ "Transgender 'icon' to educate Manipur voters". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  7. ↑ "EC ropes in Manipur LGBT model as State Icon". The Pioneer. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  8. ↑ "Manipur Film Awards: Bishesh Huirem becomes first transgender to win best actor award". The Indian Express. 2022-04-09. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  9. ↑ Rana, Ratika (2022-04-11). "Bishesh Huirem Becomes First Transgender To Win Best Actor In Manipur Film Awards". thelogicalindian.com. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  10. ↑ Express, The Sangai (13 September 2016). "Minister's escort 'assault' Shumang Leela artiste". E-Pao. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  11. ↑ Adhikarimayum, Jolly (3 November 2012). ""Ang Tamo" : A mirror about the life of Nupi Shabis". E-Pao. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  12. ↑ "Bishesh Huirem starrer "It's Not My Choice" screened at Rajabhat University, Thailand". The Sangai Express. 7 February 2024.
  13. 1 2 "It's Not My Choice: A Film To Endure For Many Years To Come". Signpost News. 6 February 2023.
  14. ↑ Atom, Sangita (25 November 2022). "It's Not My Choice : An Impactful Manipuri Film On Transgender Visibility". E-Pao. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  15. ↑ "Manipuri film IT'S NOT MY CHOICE triumphs in every aspect". The Sangai Express. 2 February 2023.
  16. ↑ "Thai filmmaker to adapt Manipuri short film 'It's Not My Choice'". East Mojo. 7 February 2023.
  17. ↑ "Manipur Film Awards: Bishesh Huirem becomes first transgender to win best actor award". justicenews. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  18. ↑ Y, H (4 January 2023). "Romi Meitei Wins Best Director, Bishesh Huirem Bags Special Jury Award in 5th Sailadhar Baruah Film Awards Award". HY News. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  19. ↑ "Manipuri transgender actor beaten up by minister's police escorts". Deccan Chronicle. 2016-09-17. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  20. ↑ "Transgender actor thrashed by cops unable to perfrom[sic]". The Times of India. September 16, 2016. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  21. ↑ সংস্থা, সংবাদ. "রূপান্তরকামী মডেলের উপর মন্ত্রীর রক্ষীদের হামলা ইম্ফলে". www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  22. ↑ അക്ഷയ്‌ (2016-09-17). "ഭിന്നലിംഗ മോഡലിന് മന്ത്രിയുടെ സുരക്ഷാ സംഘത്തിന്റെ മര്‍ദ്ദനം; മന്ത്രി നോക്കി നിന്നു". malayalam.oneindia.com (in Malayalam). Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  23. 1 2 "Minister's escort 'assault' Shumang Leela artiste : 14th sep16 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  24. ↑ "Manipur Shumang Lila artist Huirem Bishesh physically assaulted allegedly by escorts of RD & PR Minister Moirangthem Okendro". www.impacttv.in. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  25. ↑ "Manipuri transgenders demand apology from minister over attack". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  26. ↑ "Manipuri transgenders demand apology from minister over attack". Business Standard India. 2016-09-17. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.