A personal take on the representation of Queer characters in South Indian Cinema so far. (Originally posted on Substack)

I recorded more than one podcast episode on the Indian queer podcast and co-hosted, on this very topic nearly two years ago, and in the time since then, I’ve noticed changes in both the quality and quantity of LGBTQIA+ (or queer) representation in Indian cinema and web series. However, while progress is evident, it still feels like there’s a long way to go.

The representation of queer characters in Indian and South Indian cinema and web series has definitely seen significant shifts over recent years. I don't watch a lot of queer content on YouTube, so won't mention it. IMO, YouTube content can get too triggering and has a very heavy cis-het perspective.  

Over the years, in the mainstream media spaces, queer characters were either sidelined or quite tragically stereotyped. Just the existence of a queer character sometimes was to serve as comic relief or portrayed through exaggerated, one-dimensional portrayals. But since the reading down of IPC 377, there was a tiny shift in societal attitudes and there was space for filmmakers to explore LGBTQIA+ identities with greater empathy and complexity. This attitude shift paved the way for a more inclusive portrayal of queer characters.

One of the early breakthroughs in this transformation came with movies like Njan Marykutty (2018) in Malayalam. This narrative portrayed the journey of a transgender woman with respect and depth, so much more than most movies have done before. Actor Jayasurya’s nuanced performance offered a glimpse into the struggles and triumphs of transgender people. It was more than just clichéd representations and the portrayal struck a deep chord with viewers.