Over the time, the film has widespread acclaim abroad for its realistic portrayal of transgenders in India and the prejudice and hatred the masses bear against them.
The Pink MirrorĪ rare film and the only film in this list about transgenders, ‘The Pink Mirror’ was panned by the Indian Censor Board owing to which the film is still banned in India. Little do many people know that she once starred in a lesser known film ‘My Brother Nikhil’ directed by Onir. A film discussing same-sex love and its response in a typical Indian family and the prejudice of AIDS that exists to this day, this remains a touching yet a criminally under-seen masterpiece. Juhi Chawla is easily one of the quirkiest and versatile actresses of Bollywood, well known for her comedic roles in the 90’s.
Homosexuality had never been a household topic in India and a film with explicit content involving lesbianism was likely to be shunned off by the masses at that time.Ĭontemporary critics have lauded ‘Fire’ for its passionate story told with a sharp skill and great performances, with many citing it as the ‘ first relevant Indian Gay Film’. The fault was not in the film but in the time it was released in. Released in 1996, this Deepa Mehta lesbian drama caused outburst among people leading to its ban in the country. As of now, we take a look at those Indian gems which excellently brought out the anguish and beauty of same-sex relationships. With rational thinking finally knocking out prejudice, the filmmakers these days are bringing out thematic and enriching portrayals and we sincerely hope that these films will hammer home the minds of those implementing Section 377. While some ignorant films have been stupid enough to frequently stereotype the community and also present unfunny homophobic dialogues, it will be wrong to say that the film which have actually depicted this subject intelligently are not there But that doesn’t mean, that the film industry here hasn’t been sensitive enough to portray this sensitive issue explicitly and beautifully. India might still require some time to empower the LGBT community to ensure equal rights for every citizen irrespective of their sexual orientation. And this year we have the coming-of-age romance ‘Call Me By Your Name’ which has already created immense hype around the critic circle. The Barry Jenkins’s drama went on to win three Academy Awards including Best Picture. The LGBT culture now thoroughly enjoys critical and commercial success provided the portrayal is transparent and true, with last year’s ‘Moonlight’ being a perfect example of it. Yo! Vizag lists out 10 movies that depicted the LGBTQ+ community beautifully and realistically on the screen.There was a time when the portrayal of homosexuality on screen would cause massive outrage among people and owing to this suppression, the filmmakers could not freely express the gay culture on screen. While films, in general, add a broad perspective, watching these movies this pride month on your OTT platforms will pave the way for appreciating all communities. But times have changed and more and more creators come up with characters that represent the LGBTQ community. Often stereotyped in mainstream movies, the characters hardly get a chance for actual representation. When it comes to the representation of the LGBTQ+ community, only a handful of movies are available. It is only with time and proper understanding that we fight the stigma, and normalise homosexuality. Most of the time, the feeling of homosexuality is labeled as a disease. The social stigma surrounding the LGBTQ+ community has been prominent in society for a long time. The month of June is noted as the Pride month worldwide, celebrating different genders, demanding equality, stature and acknowledgment.