Indian Cinema and Homosexuality – Change in the Portrayal of Gay Characters

Homosexuality has always been a subject of taboo in India, until the Supreme Court passed the bill on legalizing homosexuality in 2009. Indian public along with a large percentage of viewers from the neighboring countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan is largely influenced by the Indian cinema, and a rapid evolution has been seen in the portrayal of homosexuality in Bollywood as well.

      Gay characters were always projected in Hindi movies as an effeminate male used just for the sake for humor in the movies, which was actually very wrong to portray it as a subject of caricature. Well, one of the very well known depiction of a gay role in a movie in India, was by the openly gay movie director, Onir, in his movie, ‘My Brother Nikhil’ in 2005 which dealt with a gay man fighting with AIDS. Also came the very controversial movie, ‘Fire’ played by Shabhana Azmi, which showed lesbian relationship, which actually brought about lot of controversies all over India, with homophobic Indian crowd causing protests against the movie, but the movie still ran in theaters and successfully caught the Indian mass.

      One of the very mainstream hit Bollywood movie which actually took the gay notion in a serious way was Karan Johar’s 2009 hit, ‘Dostana’ which had homosexual depiction in the movie. Well, Dostana did not actually deal with homosexual relationship as the story had two men pretending to be homosexuals. But the movie did talk about homosexuality and the movie was actually a super hit all over India.

      This movie ‘ Dunno Y Na Jaane Kyun’ was one movie that really did have a story which completely had a gay love story with Bollywood stars like Jeenat Aman, Helen and actors like Rituparno Sengupta and Aryan Vaid in it, but the movie could not be hit and got tangled in controversies as well. The movie was also criticized for its poor language and acting quality, plus it did not run completely all over India and had a very limited viewership. The director Onir actually have worked on various Hindi films dealing with homosexuality, like his movie, ‘I AM’ dealt with a very important issue of gay harassment by police and child abuse as a homosexual which was largely appreciated though this movie too wasn't like a typical Bollywood hit movie and did not reach out the mass.

      Karan Johar, who is known as one of those top directors of the Indian cinema has been casting gay characters in his movies since quite sometimes, which started from Kal Ho Na Ho, where a little joke was carried out with the depiction of the characters of Shahrukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan. Dostana too was his movie which was actually a movie that made the Indian viewers quite acquainted with what actually gays and homosexuals are. Even his movies like Student of the Year, had a gay character played by Rishi Kapoor. His most recent compiled Short film, Bombay Talkies too had a gay story, which also did have an on screen gay kiss, which is actually very new to the Indian cinema.

     Well, if a comparison is made between the Indian cinema and the International cinema, India is far behind when depiction of homosexuality is concerned. India yet hasn't had a very mainstream Bollywood movie that actually deals with gays and homosexuality. India is also yet to have a mainstream Bollywood actor/ actress to play a gay or lesbian role like what Hollywood actors have. For instance famous Hollywood actors who are straight have comfortably portrayed a gay characters like Heath Ledger, Bradley Cooper, Robert Pattinson, Jake Gyllenhaal, just to name few. While we are yet to see those famous actors of the Indian cinema to play a gay role. 

    However, the evolution of the Indian film industry has occurred and a vast change has been seen where the portrayal of homosexuality is concerned. Bollywood is still growing up and yes, one can expect to see a mainstream actor, director working together to make a gay themed movie and running in theaters all over India soon.