Despite the Supreme Court’s decriminalization of Section 377, homosexuality remains taboo in Indian society. Several filmmakers have attempted to explore same-sex storylines in film over the years. While these films were initially met with great criticism, things began to change with time. While many would argue that there is still a long way to go before Indian society welcomes LGBTQ people openly, there is no doubting that there has been a constant progression in how society views this group. In reality, cinema has transformed how it portrays the LGBTQ community as well. Here are a few of the Bollywood movies that are based on LGBTQ relationships.
1. Badhaai Do
Badhaai Do, starring Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar, will be released in theatres on February 11. The film tells the narrative of Shardul, a gay man, and Sumi, a lesbian woman. Sumi does not want to marry because she is not interested in boys.
Shardul takes advantage of this and marries her in order to keep the family’s heart. The tale revolves around how both of their families would go forward from this complicated relationship.
2. Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui
Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui had Ayushmann Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor in the key roles. The film depicts Ayushmann falling in love with the transwoman Vaani, but once he learns the truth, the earth crumbles beneath his feet. The plot revolves around Ayushmann and his family’s reaction to learning the truth.
3. Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, directed by Hitesh Kewalya, featured an LGBT love tale. The film is about two boys who persuade their families to accept gay marriage.
4. Bomgay
‘Bomgay,’ directed by Riyad Vinci Wadia and Jangu Sethna, was released in 1996 and is the first Indian gay short film. The film is based on R. Raj Rao’s gay poetry. The poem is a collection of six tales that reflect the twisted and clandestine character of LGBT identity in metropolitan India. The contentious gay sex scene in a library is the film’s most famous scene.