The opening of a film focusing on the rare Progeria disorder is the latest in a spate of Bollywood films about health disorders. The BBC’sPrachi Pinglay looks at why the Indian film industry is departing from its traditional formula to tackle weighty issues such as autism and Alzheimer’s disease.
Auro is 13, but looks 65. He has Progeria – a rare disorder which accelerates ageing in children.
Pia has been married to a man for over 20 years but she does not always remember him. She has Alzheimer’s disease.
Ishaan, eight, is a gifted painter but messes up his numbers and letters. He is dyslexic.
Sanjay Singhania cannot remember how his wife was killed, yet he wants to take revenge. He suffers from “short-term memory loss”, a type of amnesia developed after a traumatic incident.
What links these people?
They all have neurological conditions, and are the protagonists of mainstream Hindi films released in the last two years. more
I’m still a bit gobsmacked, two hours after returning home post my Dostana outing.
In many ways the film is vintage KJ (Karan Johar): an ensemble cast, sumptuous sets, beautiful people (even the extras look gorgeous), great location. And if KJ (whose own sexuality has been the topic of endless speculation) pushed the envelope on extra-marital relationships in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, he pushes another envelope with Dostana: exploring gay relationships.
OK, so the two leading men — Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham are only pretending to be gay. Why lie? They want to share a fabulous apartment with an Indian girl (played by Priyanka Chopra) whose conservative aunt wants her to share it only with girls. So, Abhishek and John pretend to be gay and even concoct a hilarious story of how they met and fell in love in Venice.
Two things stand out in what could have been an otherwise stereotypical romcom. Of course, both Abhishek (Samir) and John (Kunal) fall madly in love with Priyanka (Neha). But then, just as you begin wondering who will finally get the girl, a third man (Bobby Deol) enters the scene just before interval, quite literally queering the pitch. The ending? Not as predictable as you might imagine.
Second, director Tarun Mansukhani tries to break as many cielings as he can within the ambit of a mainstream flick. When, for instance, was the last time you saw a movie where a leading actor played the part of a nurse? Never? So, three cheers for dignity of labour.
Also, I concede, this film is no Brokeback Mountain. But what it will end up doing by the time it’s completed its run, is make homosexuality a little bit less of a taboo. Abhishek and John might not be gay after all, but Priyanka makes an impassioned plea to Abhishek’s mom (Kiron Kher) to accept her son for what he is so that he can live his life and be happy. How’s that for promoting gay rights?
There’s none of the ‘chee‘ aspect you’d imagine a mainstream film would smear onto homosexuals. There’s no passing of judgment, and what stays with you finally is a friendship that is warm and real.
And, yes, it’s sexy in many ways. Buff, toned and tanned John Abraham rising out of the sea in his yellow trunks could give Daniel Craig a run for his money. And there are plenty of jokes on the lines of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Bum (the version I’ve heard substitutes a word for cat instead of Khushi, to describe bisexual behaviour). Bobby Deol tells Priyanka he’s good in bed. And I can tell you that the audience I watched this movie with loved with sexual references. It was as if years of repression had just lifted away.
Yes, the film drags (oops, no pun intended) post interval. But all in all, I liked Dostana so much that I’m going to see it one more time with my kids and mom.
And thanks for pointing out the obvious: Of course, Gabbar Singh (of Sholay) is gay.
Homosexuality is still illegal in India but is its film industry ready to tackle on this final taboo? Anil Sinanan finds out for The Times (London)
Is Bollywood coming out of the closet? It looks so with the release of Dostana (Friendship), a gay rom-com with four A-list stars including Shilpa Shetty and produced by Karan Johar, Bollywood’s biggest director. Of course, in Dostana two of Bollywood’s biggest heroes — John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan — only pretend to be gay to get closer to the object of their affection, Priyanka Chopra. Even so, this is daring for Bollywood as it is the first major film to address the love that dare not speak its name in such a mainstream manner.
Homosexuality remains illegal in India, and is still considered a taboo topic by many. The relevant law is Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (1860), which prohibits “unnatural offences”, defined as “carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal”. But Johar says he thinks the timing is right for Dostana. Section 377 is now under review in the Indian courts and, at least in the major cities, negative attitudes are changing. In an action begun in 2001 the law is being challenged in the Delhi High Court.
Three Bollywood actors make it to one of Forbes’s lists, a place where you’d usually find the likes of Lakshmi Mittal or the Ambani brothers. The list — powerful celebrities who endorse cellphones — features Shah Rukh Khan (Nokia), Abhishek Bachchan (Motorola) and Aamir Khan (Samsung). India, says the article by Elizabeth Woyke, is the global capital of celebrity cellphone promotions, thanks to the fact that it is the world’s fastest growing cellphone market and that it is rich with a plethora of homegrown superstars. Read the full story here.
For the story in pictures:
SHAH RUKH KHAN
Occupation: Actor
Region/territory: India
Brand ambassador for: Nokia phones
The world’s largest phone manufacturer doesn’t work with many celebrities but makes an exception for Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, who says he has used Nokia phones for more than a decade. After pairing on a popular commercial last December, the company began sponsoring Khan’s cricket team this spring.
Bollywood’s first family, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan come together for the first time (post marriage) in a film, Sarkar Raj which is set to hit theatres on Friday. Kaveree Bamzai takes a look at the Bachchan clan in India Today
Amitabh Bachchan, patriarch of Bollywood’s first family, the all-time highest grossing Hindi film star of 134 films with a cumulative boxoffice revenue of over Rs 3,700 crore, the face of 20 brands, and currently the nation’s best-known blogger, is busy.
He has his arms around the waists of his son, Abhishek, and daughter-in-law Aishwarya, and he’s tickling them. Abhishek keeps a straight face, but Aishwarya can’t help bursting into her trademark laugh.
“People keep saying that I giggle,” she says. “They should see what I have to put up with sometimes.” Abhishek has already mock-threatened his father for getting too close to his wife of just over a year.
He asks Aishwarya, “is this as close as we can get?” Amitabh is complaining about his son spoiling his hairdo while Aishwarya is being shown a mirror by her husband’s make-up artist.
Love sells — and how — in Bollywood. Real life couples are positioning themselves as on-screen package deals, reports Prashant Singh in Mail Today
Bollywood is discovering the power of two. Real- life star couples are manipulating relationships to strike gold at a professional level. Whether it is AbhiAsh, Ajay Devgan- Kajol, Saif Ali Khan- Kareena Kapoor or John Abraham- Bipasha Basu, they are all striking multi- million contracts by way of film deals and advertising campaigns. The trend is also being tapped to rake it in by way of joint public appearances. Together, these couples have indeed also become a measure of marketability. ‘ Two together’ seems to be the latest winning mantra, with celebrity couples hogging the spotlight. Casting directors of films as well as brand managers are waking up to the trend.
Auro is 13, but looks 65. He has Progeria – a rare disorder which accelerates ageing in children.
