Nik Singh Ningthoujam during a show | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Nik Singh Ningthoujam (pronoun: He/she) runs in domino pizza in Mehdipatnam with a calm pride. Self-confidence, independent and multidisciplines and Trans Man have called Hyderabad home for almost a decade. “Hyderabad stands like a good friend by me,” says 27 -year -old. “It has helped me to be who I am. I am respected here as an artist and as myself.”
Music, an integral organ
Choreographer fiancé APOOH Mahi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Nick’s journey from Manipur to Hyderabad began as an academic discovery-but over time, the city became his canvas for self-khoj. Ningthojam Namrata Devi – of birth is called Nikita with love – in the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal, Nick had just six when she got her voice for the first time. ,Subah to Sham Tak Hamare Ghar Meen Meen Bing Chanta“He remembers.” The music is played at home from morning to night. ,
Recognizing his talent quickly, Guru Huadrome Noboy offered him to train in semi-classical Hindustani music for four years. After the family, Avang Sekmai Avang Leikai, Nick, Nick, yet known as Namrata, became the youngest to take stage in local music shows. Music offered solitude, but silenced the growing incompatibility felt within it. “There was a deep inconvenience in girls wearing clothes,” he shared. “But I did not have words, or space to express it.”
Shift in Hyderabad
Nik Singh Ningthozam | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In 2014, Nick made his way to Hyderabad alone, determined to engrave a future on his terms in the next five years, which came out in a spot of grit and growth – Saint N College, chasing a degree in Mehdipipatnam, taught the children of the neighborhood to represent their state for their education at the national level. Even he reached the audition era India’s Got Talent And Indian statue In 2018, the All-Girl City Band, Preity Kot now facing the All-Garl City Band.
But under the achievements an internal turmoil -a deep requirement of facing questions around the penis and identity. “After the music show audition, I realized that I could not lie,” Nick says. “In my mind, I was a man trapped in a woman’s body. I needed to be financially independent – maybe even traveling abroad for surgery.”
With the help of a fellow Quir Mitra, Nick reached an endocrinologist and made a psychological evaluation. In 2019, he made infection, marked the onset of a more authentic chapter. “As Namrata, I had 10 fan pages online. Some were surprised, some were upset, but I also got new friendship and my deep feeling.”
Infection, however, came with a cost – especially for his voice. He said, “The hormone therapy changed everything. My voices were broken. I could not sing or speak properly. I thought I was losing myself,” he said. Nick had to see his relationship with music again from scratch. “The song in a male voice felt foreigner; it confused me and sometimes, really less. I would just ask the musician friends to ask which scale I should sing ‘Sa Re Ga Ma’.”
Different efforts
NIQUE and Apooh Mahi Pose after a show | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Today, NIQUE channels its passion through many creative outlets, covers Hindi and Telugu in pop and rock styles, while easily switchs between guitar, keyboard, tabla and drums. He is also the founder of the NNN project, a music collective that nourishes emerging talent and makes it to use and expression.
With his choreographer fiancé Apo Mahi (pronoun: ze/zir), NIQUE CO-Leads Apnientertainment- A proudly inclusive, artist-operated initiative, which aims to build a community through connections, cooperation and creativity. Both are now ready to launch their first Hindi origin, About you
Hyderabad, they say, it remains in the heart of all. “This city gave me a feeling of belonging. During her shortest moments, it was not my parents, whom I changed – it was my friends.” his dream? One day singing in the sea of ​​people. “A free concert program. Millions of music lovers. I need all this.”
Published – June 19, 2025 11:42 am IST
