Filmmaker Fights Stereotypes with Sensitive Queer Stories

Sridhar Rangayan, a filmmaker and activist, has dedicated over two decades to using cinema for social advocacy, focusing on authentic portrayals of India's LGBTQ+ community. His recent film, 'Kuch Sapney Apne,' a sequel to his 2018 movie 'Evening Shadows,' continues the narrative of a gay couple and their family, emphasizing that all relationships, regardless of orientation, are complex. The film, which has garnered 12 international awards from 32 festival screenings, recently had a successful showing in Ahmedabad.

Rangayan aims to tell the stories of his community through film, critiquing mainstream cinema's myopic and often stereotypical depiction of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly gay men. He highlights that 'Kuch Sapney Apne' features everyday characters navigating realistic relationship challenges. He observes a positive shift in societal acceptance of queer cinema, recalling a time when audiences attended screenings covertly due to fear of stigma.

Following the 2018 Supreme Court verdict decriminalizing homosexuality, Rangayan notes a rise in mainstream films featuring LGBTQ+ characters, though their frequency has decreased recently. He points out that while web series often include queer characters, they sometimes lack meaningful development, emphasizing the need for sensitivity and well-rounded roles. Rangayan has made his latest film more mainstream by including songs, one of which is a collaboration with Vishal Bhardwaj, aiming for a positive and happy ending, a contrast to the often somber narratives in Indian queer cinema.