I have always been a tad disappointed with the way in which homosexuals are portrayed in our films. Even though the modelling and the film industry apparently abounds with gays, the way gays are shown on celluloid leaves much to be desired. Even openly known gay film directors like Karan Johar or Onir shy from showing love between two men as it could be!
One of the earliest scenes that I remember which has a gay undertone is from the film Silsila. This is a scene in which Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan are taking a shower together (apparently nude) and Shashi Kapoor deliberately drops the soap and asks AB to bend over and pick it up! AB being clever laughs and refuses to do so. They both remember their childhood 'mischiefs' and break into peels of laughter.
One of the earliest scenes that I remember which has a gay undertone is from the film Silsila. This is a scene in which Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan are taking a shower together (apparently nude) and Shashi Kapoor deliberately drops the soap and asks AB to bend over and pick it up! AB being clever laughs and refuses to do so. They both remember their childhood 'mischiefs' and break into peels of laughter.
Later, I have seen in a number of films in which they mock the gay people quite shamelessly. Gay people are always shown to be effeminate (in other words drag queens). I remember quite a few films which have mocked the gay way of life in the most humiliating manner. In fact gay characters in films have always provided comic relief to a dead pan script. I find it especially painful when I see 'sensible' and 'saleable' film directors like KJ not doing enough to spread the message that homosexuals are no different from straight people and they too can have loving relationships. Instead, he chooses to show SRK and Saif Khan in certain tasteless comedy scenes in KHNH. What a sheer waste!!!
And then there are other directors like Onir who send out a very wrong message to the public at large with films like My Brother Nikhil. I appreciate the story of the film but Sanjay Suri's homosexual relationship with Purab Kohli is not treated well. I feel that 99% of the junta here in India is blissfully unaware of the gay way of life and thinks that gays exist only to fuck everything that moves!!! To add to this situation, when you associate HIV even remotely with a guy who has a gay relationship (even though the HIV may not be as a result of the relationship), then the effects can be catastrophic. People tend to believe that all gay men are HIV+ve and that in no way reflects the reality.
Recently, there have been films like Page 3 or Metro which portray gays to be utterly manipulative. This again sends wrong signals to the 'aam' junta! They start to believe that gays are indeed bad people who don't really care about anyone else's feelings! But that's hardly the truth. I found the film 'Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd' to be quite interesting! At least they tried to address the problem of a gay getting married in a mature and sensible manner. They also tried to touch upon the bisexual guys who also form a part of our society!
I have seen English movies with gay themes like 'Touch of Pink', 'TransAmerica'. 'Chicken Tikka Masala' and they have been much better both in terms of content and the message they tried to spread.
I certainly hope that with time more saleable directors and actors would not hesitate to portray homosexuals maturely, not as HIV infected or sex hungry maniacs or manipulative bitches but as individuals who just choose to love a person of their own gender and have a right to live a life with dignity and as happily as everyone else while contributing in their own way to the society.
And then there are other directors like Onir who send out a very wrong message to the public at large with films like My Brother Nikhil. I appreciate the story of the film but Sanjay Suri's homosexual relationship with Purab Kohli is not treated well. I feel that 99% of the junta here in India is blissfully unaware of the gay way of life and thinks that gays exist only to fuck everything that moves!!! To add to this situation, when you associate HIV even remotely with a guy who has a gay relationship (even though the HIV may not be as a result of the relationship), then the effects can be catastrophic. People tend to believe that all gay men are HIV+ve and that in no way reflects the reality.
Recently, there have been films like Page 3 or Metro which portray gays to be utterly manipulative. This again sends wrong signals to the 'aam' junta! They start to believe that gays are indeed bad people who don't really care about anyone else's feelings! But that's hardly the truth. I found the film 'Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd' to be quite interesting! At least they tried to address the problem of a gay getting married in a mature and sensible manner. They also tried to touch upon the bisexual guys who also form a part of our society!
I have seen English movies with gay themes like 'Touch of Pink', 'TransAmerica'. 'Chicken Tikka Masala' and they have been much better both in terms of content and the message they tried to spread.
I certainly hope that with time more saleable directors and actors would not hesitate to portray homosexuals maturely, not as HIV infected or sex hungry maniacs or manipulative bitches but as individuals who just choose to love a person of their own gender and have a right to live a life with dignity and as happily as everyone else while contributing in their own way to the society.
4 comments:
Was watching SATC yesterday night and this piece of yours came across my mind...
It being so path breaking and well done still has portrayal of Gay characters thats not completely true!
Although...its way better then what we have in our cinema.
Loved the way QAF handled it, raw and true...sometimes overboard but it was needed to destroy the image that existed...
I haven't seen My Brother Nikhil (I absolutely intend to do so when I get back home in May) though I've heard so much good stuff about it. But, yes, I'd have to say, I do agree that it is rather unfortunate that one of the first movies that addresses male homosexuality should portray an HIV+ man, since that is such a major misconception -- that all gay men are HIV+/have AIDS and this might just serve to further perpetuate the myth. At the same time, I feel like movies such as this one and Fire (which I didn't actually like, but feel obliged to say that I did... meh) still serve a major purpose -- ACKNOWLEDGMENT!
As I keep trying to explain to my friends at college, for most Indians, homosexuality is such a taboo topic that it isn't brought up at all. Ever. People would rather pretend they are straight and live on in loveless marriages. Butt hen, it wouldn't seem like such a big deal where even a whole lot of heterosexual people are living in loveless arranged marriages. Oh, Indian society.
I feel like India really needs openly gay/lesbian/bisexual celebrities (by the way, despite what we assume, I don't think KJ is openly gay). The only openly queer celebrity I can think of is Vikram Seth, but his appeal is restricted to the literary elite. It's a tough society to be queer in.
came across your post while searching for something online. Am currently writing a thesis on lesbianism in indian films and your sentiments echo alot of mine.
Well you can look at this in a positive manner... no matter what you say people find it difficult coming out of the closet and those who do are often laughed at. Hindi films are slowly moving forward with the subject which i believe is growth. You mentioned 'My Brother Nikhil' the film clearly states that Sanjay Suri did not become HIV+ because he was gay. Because a lot of ppl believe that gays are the reason why the disease has spread so much... hence i think Onir has only helped in clearing that prejudice. Give it some more time and i am sure you will see films with Homosexuality as its theme shown in its true style without being ridiculed.
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