Film challenge.

Film challenge, February: Gay and Queer cinema. 

- Gulabi Aaina (aka The pink mirror). (India, 2002. Dir. Sridhar Rangayan). 40-minute short. A day in the life of drag queens Bibbo and Shabbo, vitriolic yet fiercely loyal friends. While preparing for the night, they face complications from a medical revelation —and from a blooming attraction between Mandy, Shabbo’s young apprentice, and Samir, Bibbo’s driver. 

A breezy feature, by turns comedic and poignant, with that characteristic ‘Bollywood’ flavor. The story behind the short is itself interesting —daring for its’ context (enough so that it was outright banned). At first glance it would seem to be a lot milder than similarly-themed films from other countries. But here, every single subtlety is a stand for freedom and against censorship —from a shot of two hands embracing under a steamy shower to the frank discussion of gender roles and terms. Director Rangayan is himself a pioneer of Indian Queer cinema.