Bollywood confusing dilemma..

The new Bollywood movie Girlfriend has posed a confusing dilemma. Queer activists are condemning the film for its homophobic and titillating depiction of lesbians. But those stone activists are just as outraged at rightwing religious groups who condemn Girlfriend's lesbian elements as "un-Indian." "The film has managed to infuriate everybody," Activists have had to take a much more nuanced position, condemning both the film and the protests against it.

Indeed, Girlfriend makes Basic Instinct look benign. In the three-hour movie, Sapna (Amrita Arora), a woman scared of going out with men, shares her bed with her best friend, Tanya (Isha Koppikar), a man-hating lesbian. Tanya is so obsessed with Sapna that she becomes psychotic on finding out that Sapna has been seeing a straight man, who has pretended to be gay to win her affections. When Tanya reveals "the monstrous truth" that she is gay, notes a laughing Mendonca, "the camera focuses in on her face and ominous music plays. It's a really bad film."

Homosexuality is mostly in the closet in India--Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code condemns sodomy as an "unnatural act." Shabana Azmi, one of the stars of Fire and a member of India's parliament, told The Advocate in 1998, "Gay men and lesbians are going through painful times in India right now.... The issues are only just now being articulated as a public concern." Nevertheless, vibrant gay scenes and activist groups are emerging in major cities such as Bombay......

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