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A scene that will always stay with me from Loev, an Indian film exploring gay love, that recently released on Netflix, is when the two protagonists embrace each other in bed, before falling asleep. This simple gesture of affection struck me because, it was the first time that I had personally seen real passion and tenderness being shared between tow men on the Indian screen. Moreover, they were free from the usual stereotypes- flamboyant mannerisms and effeminate caricatures that have followed most of their predecessors in mainstream Indian entertainment. Not getting the drift? Think of Salman Khan’s posse in Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya, the slapstick comedy performed by Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham in Dostana or almost every character ever played by Bobby Darling.
Do Indian men not ache with desire, not long to kiss, nor throb with love, for other men? They certainly do, but if heroes are to preserve their masculinity (no matter how toxic) they must keep their sexual desires reserved for women. However after bringing to you Indian films that explore female sexuality in realistic ways we were determined to dig out the equally rare cinematic gems that give voice to gay love-both romantically and viscerally in sensitive ways.
Battling with the notorious Indian Censor Board, these eight films on our compilation, have unapologetically given a sense of ‘normality’ to being gay and the politics of its desires. From the country’s first gay film Bomgay to the most contemporary KaBodyscapes which celebrates the male body, these films need to be celebrated for their realistic depiction of gay intimacy in India.
I. Loev (2014)
Director: Sudhanshu Saria
Language: Hindi and English
In a narrative that seamlessly tells the tale of an estranged homosexual love that grapples between friendship and romantic passion–this is one of India’s finest films in the LGBTQ+ genre. Two childhood friends Sahil, a Mumbai based musician, and Jai, a successful New York-based businessman, plan a road trip to Mahabaleshwar in the Western Ghats. During their time together they must confront the feelings they have for each other as love drives them both in and out of each other’s arms. The eye of the camera brings us up-close with their most intimate moments, as they nestle next to each other in bed at night to the graphic points at which the politics of sex takes an ugly turn.
Nuanced performances by both the lead actors complement the sensitively written script, that at its best gradually reveals the many fractures in the human soul. We consider ourselves lucky that finally, after two years of its release, the film has been made available for streaming.
You can now watch the film on Netflix.
II. Ka Bodyscapes (2015)
Director: Jay Cherian
Language: Malayali
The film’s plot centres around two roommates Harris, a gay free-spirited painter and Vishnu, a Hanuman bhakt from a conservative Hindu right-wing family. Haris makes Vishnu pose as a model for a series of bodyscapes that he creates during which the two bond with each other. Called as a celebration of the male body the film sees them comfortably giving expression to their sexual intimacy. The film also touches upon the aggression shown by Indian right-wing activists and other political movements of dissent that have been triggered in Kerala over the past couple of years. It was initially denied a certification from the CBFC for two years, but will be released soon.
III. Sisak (2017)
Director: Faraz Arif Ansari
Language: Silent
This a poignant love story of two men in a homophobic country where their love is a criminal offence. Not a word is spoken between them and nor does it seem that there is a possibility for any sort of physical intimacy. Still, the two continue to get closer to each other night after night through a wordless romance. This is what “delivers them with transitory moments of fleeting happiness and solace from the unkind realities of the passing world outside,” says the director Faraz Arif Ansari on the Wishberry campaign page. What is remarkable is that it is also India’s first silent LGBTQ film.
IV. Aligarh (2016)
Director: Hansal Mehta
Language: Hindi
Hansal Mehta’s film follows the, unfortunately, true story of Ramchandra Siras, a professor of Marathi literature at the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University. Aligarh is a movie that needs to be seen for its nuanced, sensitive, yet realistic portrayal of a lonely man who refuses to be typecast with labels. When the professor was made the head of the Department of Modern Indian Languages, it’s suspected that jealousy drew colleagues to dig into his personal life, putting his private moments and sexuality on display in a horrid manner that lead to professor Siras’ suspension.
Manoj Bajpayee gives a stellar performance as the protagonist and the importance of the film lies in its subtle commentary about privacy and personal choice. It’s critical of the reinstitution of Section 377, the stark prejudice against homosexuals, and the importance of a democratic nation’s provision and upliftment of basic human rights in the face of persecution and humiliation.
V. Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish (2012)
Director: Rituparno Ghosh
Language: Bengali
The film borrows its title from Rabindranath Tagore’s seminal play modeled on the tale of Chitrangada from The Mahabharata. On the surface Chitrangada follows the desire of a gay couple to adopt a child, leading to one of them contemplating a sex reassignment surgery that would enable them to be considered a ‘normal’ couple. Both the protagonists explore their homoeroticism but more importantly, they must break out of the shackles of societies’ heteronormative expectations that continue to burden them.
VI. My Brother Nikhil (2005)
Director: Onir
Language: Hindi
Based on the life of Dominic d’Souza, the film broke barriers for its time when it came to the conversation around HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ community in India. In the film, State swimming champion Nikhil (Sanjay Suri) has a loving family along with a committed lover Nigel (Purab Kohli). Their gay relationship is not constructed for sensational value but explores the “normalcy” of their togetherness. When Nikhil tests positive for HIV he is abandoned by all except his sister and partner. The film then explores not just the stigma associated with the disease and homosexuality but the trauma that is lived by individuals who must deal with it all, in isolation.
VII. Bomgay (1996)
Director: Riyad Vinci Wadia and Jangu Sethna
Language: English
Often regarded as India’s first serious gay film, Bomgay is divided into six parts and each part is based on R. Raj Rao’s poems-one of India’s leading gay rights activist.
The treatment of the film is interestingly part Genet and part Bollywood-combining acidic verse and insightful imagery to reveal the emerging gay community in post-liberalised India of the 1990’s. Starring Kushal Punjabi and Rahul Bose, the film was not released commercially in India as the director did not submit it to the Censor Board, believing that they would refuse it a certificate.
VIII. Pink Mirror (2003)
Director: Sridhar Rangayan
Language: Hindi
This quirky story explores the trials and tribulations of gay love. Bibbo (Ramesh Menon), a fashion designer and Shabbo (Edwin Fernandes) a dancer, are two drag queens that have a love-hate relationship with each other. They both start to compete for Samir (Rufy Baqal), an aspiring actor’s love. Mandy (Rishi Raj), Shabbo’s apprentice is also enamoured by the same man adding to the already complicated triangle. The film sensitively handles homosexuality with a welcome dose of humour. Though widely lauded in International festivals the film was banned in India as soon as it was released.
You can now watch the film on Netflix.
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