By instituting the best film award on the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender) theme, the festival also brought into focus a growing number of
films, features and documentaries, which explore a section of the society about
which people in general are not comfortable with.
But awareness is growing. My Brother Nikhil has, in fact, done to Bollywood
what Philadelphia did for Hollywood in 1993 where the HIV- positive character
played by Tom Hanks generated understanding of the gay community's place in
society.
What has endeared the audience to 'My Brother Nikhil' is the way a sister
stands by her champion swimmer brother as he goes through the experience of
being rejected not only by his friends but also by his own parents once his HIV
status is revealed.
The matter-of-fact way in which the subject is dealt with, including Nikhil's
relationship with his partner, and later his parents' remorse and acceptance
shows a lot of understanding by the director.
"I cried buckets as the story unfolded but it also made me understand the
nuances of a relationship we try to shut our minds off," admitted Anuradha
Baruah, a homemaker.
And that's important, says Pawan Dhall from the voluntary group SAATHI
(Solidarity and action Against The HIV Infection in India), one of the
co-organisers of the festival. "People empathise more with a problem like this,
a problem for the heterogeneous mindset, of course, if presented in a format
like films. Human stories always appeal."
Visual projection of serious societal issues is natural in a country like India
which churns out the largest number of film titles in the world each year, most
of them from the western city of Mumbai also know as 'Bollywood' for its
prodigious film industry.
Last year, a film on AIDS awareness 'Phir Milenge' (We'll meet again) directed
by actress Revathy Menon elicited comments from Peter Piot, chief of the United
Nations joint-programmed against AIDS who had said, "When Bollywood, one of the
world's largest film industries with massive audiences, produces a film about
AIDS, everyone has to sit up and take notice."
Piot thought it was "extremely significant that Bollywood is joining the
struggle against the epidemic and helping to break the silence that surrounds
HIV and AIDS."
The film revolves round an advertising executive who is fired when her employer
discovers that she is HIV-positive. She eventually wins a discrimination
lawsuit against her employer allowing the examination of stigma, discrimination
and ignorance associated with HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
Earlier, some films from Bollywood mainstream did try to weave male homosexual
characters into the plot. 'Tamanna' (Desire) examines the mental dilemma of a
girl adopted by a eunuch who eventually discovers her well-to-do biological
parents.
The idea of an alternative family to the conventional heterosexual patriarchal
family of the Indian cinema was bold but films were produced which tackled the
subject.
Even real-life stories, not fiction, are emerging on the issue. The simple
docu-feature in Bengali Piku Bhalo Aachhey (Piku is fine) directed by
Tirthankar Guha Thakurta, a medical college student, is a 'coming out' film.
Technically it would not measure up but then the director used a handy-cam with
help from friends during a semester break, "But it was important for me to make
it. I know what it feels to 'different' in our conservative society and the
pain thereof. It also helped me to accept my own position in society. I'm at
peace," said Guha Thakurta.
The US-based filmmaker Sonali who was in Kolkatta for the festival and is busy
making a documentary on the parents of LGBT aid, "Many parents feel isolated in
such cases and think that they are the only ones who have this problem."
"Basically, it's about understanding and acceptance on both sides," said Sonali
who feels that a film on the issue will also dispel the myth that LGBT is
prevalent in the West and "not with us while so many people in the country are
LGBT."
Sonali admits that having parents talk on camera is a problem though they are
willing to talk about the subject. Initially she is focusing on India but
subsequently she wants to cover South Asia and has chalked out plans to
interview parents in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Inter Press Service
