Entertainment


Bollywood Queens

Shelina Begum
31/ 5/2004

A Bollywood-style film about Indian drag queens shocked the censor so much it was banned.
Despite the uproar over director Sridhar Rangayan's 'Pink Mirror' (Gulabi Aina) the film has received critical acclaim all over the world and even received the highest award at the 'Question De Genres' film festival in France.
The controversial director who campaigns for gay rights was in Manchester recently with his film, which was shown in the Commonwealth Film Festival.

The Pink Mirror is the first film from India, which focuses on homosexuality in a realistic way neither glorifying, or denigrating gay characters.
Said Sridhar: "Drag queens love camp humour, dance and drama and they love Bollywood films.
"That is why I set the film in a Bollywood soap format with song and dance routines.
"It uses the same clichés but inverts the genre.
"For many years we have seen drag queens in Bollywood films, but they have always been the ones that people ridiculed or are only ever shown as entertainment at wedding parties.
"I wanted a film that queens would enjoy as their own and I wanted it to be acceptable to a wider audience. I wanted the people to laugh with the characters, not laugh at them.
"Unfortunately the Indian censor board didn't take a liking to it.
"Homosexuality is still considered as a taboo subject in India, but since drag queens are seen in nearly every Indian city, I wasn't expecting the board to ban the film and call it 'vulgar'.
"I am now appealing against the decision, there has been a demand for the film in India, so hopefully they will change their minds."
The Pink Mirror revolves around the emotions and desires of two drag queens - Shaboo and Buboo - and a gay teenager as they compete for the attention of a bisexual hunk. The film takes a humourous look at their lives and speaks in their language - colloquial Hindi delivered with wit and constant bitching.
Said Sridhar: "More and more people are coming out of the closet in India and are not shamed to be gay, yet they are treated like second class citizens.
"I wanted to portray their thoughts and feelings so the wider audience will realise that gay people have the same right to live peacefully and openly with their identity as the average straight person.
"This film not only portrays this but is a celebration of Indian drag queens."

Sridhar worked with drag queens he knows to make the film more realistic and they had input throughout the production.
"They're a great bunch of people. I have many friends who are proud queens. They love dressing up, they love extravagant costumes and makeup.
"In Hollywood queens look up to people like Barbara Streisand but in India its Rekha and Mina Kumari who queens want to imitate. There is so much to them which why is why I felt this film was important to do."
Over the past four years, Sridhar, who is gay, and has been 'married' to his partner of eight years, has directed more than 30 films and is now working on other movies which will focus on issues relating to lesbians, ageing gay men, married gay men, eunuchs and toy boys.
He is also the founder trustee of India's first gay NGO called 'Hum Safar' and has edited many issues of 'Bombay Dost' - India's first gay newsletter.
He added: "I've always been proud to be gay and why shouldn't I be? There is nothing to be ashamed of; my family and friends all know about me.
"Some people do find it hard to accept but I don't let other people's prejudice get in the way of doing my work and enjoying my life."


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