Bollywood goes Brokeback

Bollywood goes Brokeback

It may be the world’s biggest film industry, but many eyes will be watching how Bollywood handles going gay next month.

Touted as the Indian answer to Brokeback Mountain, Dunno Y … Na Jaane Kyun will feature the first gay kiss in any Bollywood title when it’s released in a few weeks.

There have been some positive but not overwhelming signs that India is softening its attitudes towards gay men and women in the country, starting with the decriminalisation of gay sex nationwide last year — although a final ruling is still pending.

In 2008, another Bollywood film, Dostana, featured leads who pretend to be gay to get the girl, but that’s the closest the gay community has ever come to full-scale visibility on screen.

Dunno Y … Na Jaane Kyun tells the story of an aspiring model who travels to Mumbai and enters into a homosexual relationship. Its poster leaves very little to the imagination regarding the direction of the story and caused plenty of controversy when it was released last year.

Gay activists in India had a positive reaction to the film’s trailer but said they’re concerned it may provoke a backlash from religious and political conservatives when it’s released and threaten the recent repeal of the anti-homosexuality laws.

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