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Emotions run high in gay film
30/11/2005
A SEXUALLY charged film about gay relationships in the UK and
India is already causing stir in the Indian film industry.
'Yours Emotionally,' is a film about the unheard voice of gay South
Asian men which is coming under widespread criticism from India's
largely devout Hindu society even before it has been
released.
But director Sridhar Rangayan is positive that the film will be
well received by the more liberal minded.
He said: "'Yours Emotionally' is about evolving identities and
cultural contrasts. We all live in a social web that enmesh us in
its complex bondings. No same-sex relationship can be easy, whether
in cities or small towns, whether in India or elsewhere. It is a
very subjective film and open to multiple interpretations.
"Surely some will hate the film; but I hope many will love it and
enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making the film."
The film revolves around Ravi & Paul, two friends from
Leicester, who end up attending a gay party in the small Indian
town of Shimoga. There, Ravi meets Mani, - a dark & handsome
local working man and Ravi falls in love.
Ravi and Paul also meet an older male couple, Murthy and Anna, a
gay couple in their sixties, who run a hotel and they form a strong
friendship.
However, problems start when Mani's parents pressurise him to marry
a woman, but Ravi wants his new-found love to join him in the
UK.
Said Rangayan: "'Yours Emotionally!' is a long-distance
collaborative venture and a very interesting co-production, a
confluence of cultures and processes in its true sense.
"It all began with a lunch meeting I had with Niranjan (the
producer) and Saagar (the executive producer) in December 2004. I
was busy with a television series at that time, to be shot in
Singapore and Malaysia, and I nodded away vaguely not sure the
project talks would ever fructify into something concrete. After
Niranjan got back to London, he emailed a proposal - along with a
captivating storyline and a zero budget!
"The project started off slow but sure - since I could only allot a
few hours each day to it - as Niranjan and I worked long distance
on the script through long emails and short phone
conversations.
"The storyline evolved with its pan- Asian cultural context;
exploring the influences of gay subcultures from a multicultural
place in the UK and a secluded small town in India. While making a
film it is always difficult to present realities without prejudice;
with a balance - neither glorifying, nor patronising - was an
interesting effort as characters and situations leaped out of
half-buried memories from our past to make the narrative
real."
Following on the feedback of the film from a sample peer audience,
Niranjan kept a keen hawk-like eye on the treatment to ensure the
film didn't tilt towards the melodrama Rangayan's earlier film
about draq queens, 'The Pink Mirror', caused.
They made sure the research for the film and the writing process
was educating and emotionally engaging.
Said Rangayan: "We also wanted to maintain the humour plus drama. I
felt as a filmmaker, the social matrix was interesting to explore…
same-sex love in small town India with all its complexity…
especially from a different cultural standpoint of someone who
comes from UK.
"Frantic auditions started both in Mumbai and London for the cast.
But disappointingly, though many came forward, most backed out -
some due to financial reasons because of the bare minimal budget;
but many perhaps, because of the content.
"It was a revelation to me that very few actors actually are ready
& willing to take on this challenge. That's why I am more than
grateful to the actors who finally agreed to participate in the
project, for their sheer guts, dedication, hard work &
support."
The film was shot in a small town a few hours away from Mumbai. It
was a charming idyllic location suited for the story
The highlight of the film, however, says Rangayan, was the
participation of two NGOs - Lakshya and Humsafar Trust who brought
in around 100 gay and transgender people who shot with the crew for
the picnic and party scenes.
"Without their bold and fearless participation, the film wouldn't
have been possible at all."
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