When Bollywood didn't just use homosexuals for comic relief

SERIOUSLY, GAY!

When Bollywood didn't just use homosexuals for comic relief

Harshada Rege

Filmmakers have often turned to over-the-top gay characters to provide comic relief in movies. Be it Kal Ho Naa Ho (remember Kantabai's reaction?) or the recently released Mastizaade, gay jokes have often found their way into Bollywood films. However, it's heartening to see that many filmmakers have also made films that are sensitive towards the gay community. Here are some characters that bring out the hardships of those who are still battling Section 377.

Manoj Bajpayee

Aligarh

Aligarh, a movie that's based on a real-life story of professor Dr Siras, who was suspended from his job because of his sexual orientation, releases today. The professor was filmed having sex with a rickshaw puller in his house in the college campus. After successfully appealing his suspension, he died under suspicious circumstances. Manoj Bajpayee plays Siras in Aligarh, while Rajkummar Rao plays Deepu, a journalist who brings this case in focus. Manoj proves his mettle once again with a nuanced performance. The actor brings to life a man who faces the wrath of his colleagues and the society with perseverance and patience.

Samir Soni

Fashion

Though the movie was about Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut and their journey in the fashion industry, director Madhur Bhandarkar also etched out Samir Soni's character which showed the predicament of a gay designer. Samir played Rahul Arora, who is a top designer and yet cannot escape parental pressure to tie the knot. He eventually asks his friend Mugdha Godse to marry him, but only after honestly confessing to her that he is gay. She agrees. Not an ideal marriage, but there's no denying that such marriages of convenience do exist.

Sanjay Suri-Purab Kohli

My Brother Nikhil

Sanjay played Nikhil, a state-level all-round swimming champion, while Purab essayed the role of Nigel, who is Nikhil's boyfriend. After Nikhil is diagnosed with HIV, his friends and family members abandon him. The only people who stand by him is his sister Anamika (Juhi Chawla) and Nigel. Nikhil is arrested because he is HIV-positive and is kept in isolation by law as the Goa Public Health Act allowed the government to isolate HIV-positive people. However, his sister and boyfriend help him out and ensure he leads a normal life. The movie proved that the Indian audience was ready for movies where gay characters weren't just used for comic relief. The movie may not have been a blockbuster hit, but it did well and won its lead cast " Sanjay, Juhi and Purab " much critical acclaim.

Randeep Hooda-Saqib Saleem

Bombay Talkies

Like I Am, Bombay Talkies consisted of four shorts films made by Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Dibakar Banerjee and Anurag Kashyap. Karan, who till then had used gay characters and gay jokes for comic relief in his movies, this time did a U-Turn and made a sensitive story involving three characters. Dev (Randeep) is married to Gayatri (Rani). Gayatri works for a magazine where she meets Avinash (Saqib Saleem). Avinash has come out and realises that Dev is in denial about his sexual orientation. Gayatri blames herself for their marriage being cold. Avinash tells her the truth after he kisses her husband. She ends her marriage and begins life anew.

Vikram Chatwal-Karan Khanna

Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd

The movie was about six couples who sign up for a honeymoon package. Among the many couples dealing with marital problems are Vikram Chatwal and Sandhya Mridul and Karan Khanna-Ameesha Patel. While Vikram, who is gay, marries Sandhya due to pressure from society, Karan discovers his sexual orientation when he first sees Vikram and is instantly attracted to him. Though the movie was humorous, it was heartening to see that none of the jokes were at the expense of the gay characters. The movie went on to do decent business at the box office.

Rahul Bose

I Am

Rahul Bose played the openly gay Jai in movie I Am that consisted of four short films within it. Rahul starred in the one titled Omar. Arjun Mathur plays Omar, who is caught by a cop having sex with Jai (Rahul) in a public place. While the cop asks for money from Jai, he later takes Omar to the police station. Later, Jai finds out that both Omar and the cop, are a team that preys on innocent people. The movie won critical acclaim. It was also the first time that two men locked lips on the big screen.

The female voice

Shabana Azmi-Nandita Das

Fire

The movie focuses on the relationship that develops between two women " Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das, who are ignored by their husbands. Though the movie was passed with an A' certificate in India, the self-appointed guardians of Indian morality stormed theatres where the movie was screened and created much ruckus. Posters of the movie were burnt and property was damaged as were the movie prints. The movie was then re-released.