Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup?

Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup? is a 2018 English-Manipuri film written, produced and directed by Priyakanta Laishram under the banner, Priyakanta Productions.[1] It is the first Indian film to discuss the subject of men's makeup and gender-neutral fashion.[2] The film stars Laishram, Inder Bajwa, Thounaojam Strela Luwang, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwahlia and Bala Hijam. At the Lifestyle Young Influencer Awards 2018, the film won the Best Multimedia Influencer Award.[3] The film was premiered at St. Regis, Mumbai on 7 April 2018.[1]

Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup?
Directed byPriyakanta Laishram
Produced byPriyakanta Laishram
StarringPriyakanta Laishram
Bala Hijam
Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia
Thounaojam Strela Luwang
Inder Bajwa
CinematographySachit Gurung
Bryan Marshall
Music byIsaac
Release date
  • 7 April 2018 (2018-04-07)
Running time
24 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguagesEnglish
Meitei language (officially called Manipuri language)

Production

Development

In an interview with Scroll.in, Priyakanta Laishram said that the film was inspired by his own experiences as a boy who wears makeup and gender-neutral clothing, as well as the prejudice, mistreatment, and disparaging remarks he encountered.[4]

In The Indian Express, Laishram stated that it was through his films that he began to accept himself, after having struggled with bullying and discrimination in school and college for his penchant for wearing makeup.[5] Talking about the film on EastMojo, Laishram stated that he had to deal with a lot of criticism, trolls, and negativity since men's makeup and gender-neutral fashion were topics that were either rarely or never discussed in India at the time.[1]

Filming

The film's principal photography started on 29 January 2018. The majority of the movie was filmed in Bangalore's Garden City University and Mumbai. The film wrapped up its shoot on 5 February 2018.[2]

Inder Bajwa, a former top model in India, said of working on the movie, "It is an incredibly sensible and essential initiative".[3]

Post-production and release

Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup? was edited by Priyakanta Laishram and the music was composed by Isaac. The film had its premiere on 7 April 2018 at St. Regis in Mumbai,[6] and in Imphal on 11 May 2018. The film was later released on YouTube on 28 October 2018 for online streaming.[2]

Cast

Reception

Upon release, the film received critical acclaim for its theme and narrative. Signpost News wrote, "Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup? succeeds in conveying its intended message in a very slick and straightforward narrative style that writer and director Priyakanta Laishram had adopted. The film has the power to make anyone reevaluate every small error and slur we make inadvertently when speaking to others daily without giving it a second thought".[6]

Imphal Times wrote, "Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup is no less than a revolution".[7] Borok Times called the film "A Film Way Ahead of Its Time". They wrote, "The film emphasizes everything that is the underlying cause of all stereotypical ideologies and practices that result in discrimination and exclusion in society".[2]

References
  1. "Manipuri-English film promoting gender-neutral fashion to be screened in Mumbai". East Mojo. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  2. "Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup? : A Film Way Ahead Of Its Time – Priyakanta Laishram". Borok Times. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  3. "Former top model Inder Bajwa stars in Manipur filmmaker's award winning film". Northeast Now. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. "'I knew I wasn't transgender but I had no idea who I was': Manipuri filmmaker Priyakanta Laishram". Scroll.in. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  5. "A Manipur film tackles sexual identity for first time". The Indian Express. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  6. "Priyakanta Laishram's 'Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup?' Shatters Stereotypes". Signpost News. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  7. "2018 Manipuri film Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup is no less than a revolution" (PDF). Imphal Times. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
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