Number 10) Dunno Y… Na Jaane Kyon (2010): Though this film directed by Sanjay Sharma was screened at various international film festivals, it disappeared from our multiplexes soon after its release. It apparently features the first gay kiss (between Aryan Vaid and Kapil Sharma) in Indian cinema.
Watch it because: of the accolades it’s won, including praise for one of the actors Yuvraaj Parashar, by the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal for his sensitive portrayal of a gay character.
Number 9) Dostana (2008):
Close on the heels of Fashion, came another film starring Priyanka Chopra along with Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham, who pretend to be gay.
Watch it because: Produced by a banner that was once synonymous with fluttering saris on the Swiss Alps, this was one of the first films to have two of Bollywood’s biggest stars play (wannabe) gay characters.
Number 8) Fashion (2008):
Let’s not discuss Madhur’s Bhandarkar’s story-telling skills and creativity — or the lack of that — here. Instead, let’s look at the gay fashion designer played by Samir Soni, who eventually settled for a marriage of convenience (to please society and all), with a college buddy played by Mugdha Godse.
Watch it because: it offers an almost real peek into the highs and lows of the fashion business.
Number 7) Honeymoon Travels (2007):
This film has six couples on a bus heading for their respective honeymoons. A couple of gay married men (the openly gay hubby played by millionaire hotelier Vikram Chatwal and the not-so-openly gay one by Karan Khanna) are part of the kahani mein twist.
Watch it because: this Reema Kagti film takes a realistic look at relationships before, during and after marriage.
Number 6)My Brother Nikhil (2005):
This film by Onir is a touching depiction of strong yet fragile bonds between friends, family and lovers. A breath of fresh air, it deals with the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS as well as the coming out of a closeted gay relationship.
Watch it because: of moving performances by Sanjay Suri (Nikhil), Purab Kohli, Juhi Chawla et al in this emotional, yet feel-good film that gets you thinking about societal prejudices.
Number 5) Girlfriend (2004):
Statutory warning: This film was found to be offensive by politico-religious fundamentalists, the gay community and any human being with an iota of intelligence. And we don’t really blame them. With titillating posters, a storyline that defied logic and caricaturish characters played by Isha Koppikar, Amrita Arora and Ashish Choudhary, we can only call this Karan Razdan film a mockery of a lesbian (or any other) relationship… a painful masquerade of so-called “stereotypes” that continue to exist.
Number 4) Kal Ho Na Ho (2003):
Actors Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan in suggestive contortions while the maid seems to suffer convulsions with the Kantaben track playing… we don’t know if it’s supposed to allude to homoeroticism or plain homophobia.
Watch it: if you’re a fan of candy floss tearjerkers with happily-ever-after endings.
Number 3) Mango Soufflé (2002):
Written and directed by Mahesh Dattani, who has quite a few theatre plays to his credit, this film stars Atul Kulkarni and Rinkie Khanna —Dimple Kapadia’s younger daughter; remember her? When a gay fashion designer invites various “friends” for a dinner party, it’s time for various secrets to come out of the closet.
Number 2) Bomgay (1996):
In the same year as Fire, came a 12-minute gem of a short film called BomGay by late activist-director Riyad Wadia. Inspired by R. Raj Rao’s gay poems and featuring Rahul Bose and Kushal Punjabi, it’s poetry on celluloid.
Watch it because: This film questions complex gay identity and the burgeoning gay community in 1990s India via six vignettes.
Number 1) Fire (1996):
One of the first films to depict a lesbian relationship, Deepa Mehta’s film starring Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das remains somewhat synonymous with the subject of homosexuality, even 15 years down the line. Here, two women come together to fulfil their passions not out of choice but due to the lack of acknowledgement from their spouses. Hindu fundamentalists rioted in certain movie theaters because the “culprit” characters had Hindu names (Radha and Sita) and not Muslim names, which led to an eventual ban for religious insensitivity.
