BomGay

One afternoon, in 1996, R. Raj Rao called Riyad Vinci Wadia and asked if he could come around to show him some poems he had recently written. Raj had been invited to attend the writing program and workshop at Iowa State University and was keen that Riyad should film him with a video camera to have some visual material reading some of his poems. And this led to the making of the very first Indian Gay Film.

Approximately stretched for 12 minute of length, this short film depicts the underground and twisted nature of the gay identity in urban India. Scripting verses as the screenplay well establishes the depth of imagery to show the Indian gay life of the 1990’s. Even though I found it difficult to comprehend the scenes at times; and since the movie has been banned in India, it was very difficult to get a good print of it.

The movie was made in a couple of days due to time limitations; whose effect is reflected in not-so-good cinematography and not-so-good direction. Considering the on-screen part, most of the cast had done a commendable work even though they occupy the screen just for few seconds or more. The most common faces recognized in Bomgay are Rahul Bose, Kushal Punjabi, Tarun Shahani, R Raj Rao and Farud Cambata.

After the release, for the next several months the film received reams of newsprint. It opened up an extensive discussion on homosexuality in India and it brought the “G” word into people’s homes. In all the press that the film received there was not one reaction that was negative or derogatory.

Overall, you can manage to take out 12 minutes sometime; but only if you get its print. The movie is banned; but still spending sometime on Google can help you to get a copy of poetic classic film.

(Written for Pink Pages)

Innocent love

Hope I could step back few years and rectify my mistake. How one can be so ignorant that she can't even know what love is?

After teaching for four years I can understand the child psychology, that too when I can’t bear a child. May be I don't deserve one. May be a murderer doesn't deserve to be a mother. I am the reason for his death- my sweet little brother’s death. And the guilt deepened its root when one of my students few years back raised an unusual question I couldn't answer; or maybe I have no rights to answer his query. How can I say something about love, when I can't feel it around me? I know how it feels like for not being loved once in three years of married life.

One day, when I was preparing for my lecture in staff room, I found him looking at me as if I will understand that his heart; asking me to quit all my work and listen to his query, the query of innocent love. "Yes Beta, come in." A straight no followed my permission. "No, you come out". It reflected his disobedience, but I could sense something was disturbing this 10 year old kid. Kanav, student of V-B, one of my favorite student and more over favorite student of Meraj, my husband; who is his present class teacher.

"Yes beta, what happened to my kid?" The answer to my question was really shocking because I can't remember if I ever had argued or fought with Meraj in front of any of my students.

"Why don't you divorce Meraj Sir?"

I know everyone in the staff knew about the problems in our married life; but how come a ten year old kid can sense this, and without any delay I asked: “Why should I?"

"Because I love your husband and I want to marry him."

I can't laugh at his innocence; I can't even laugh at my ignorance. A single exchange of dialogues brought many dialogues from my past - striking me hard, and this time harder than before. Because I knew the climax; and I was equally responsible for the climax. Climax of my brother's life. Is this the time to rectify my mistake?

"I continued, "Why don't we both love him. He will be so glad to receive love from two lovers rather than one?"

"Yes, but what about our marriage?"

“You don't need to marry a person to love him or her.” (And sometimes, even marriage doesn't help) “Now you get back to your class, recess is over" and he moved back with a smile, yet a "but" on his face.

“I am not feeling well; I won’t be able to take classes in the second half. Please engage someone else to my class" I told our vice Principal and moved to the play ground; because of the advice that bulged out of my guilt.

Mischievous kids; ready for a full-on energy kick to the football. The sun can't stop them. The dust can't stop them. I feel like spending my entire day looking at those kids; but soon the scene changed: ground with a magnificent lavishing hall, football polls with the furnishings, soil with traditional carpet and ‘smiles and excitement’ with ‘sorrow and anger’. It wasn't a dream; I can recognize every character. As if a déjà vu I can even recollect the sequence of dialogues. But the only dialogues hitting my ear were: “Islam doesn't allow a man to love a man; and a sinner need to be punished”. “Because of you, they can pariah us from the society." Alternately each set of words were re-winded by my mind because I knew what happened next and I don't desire my eyes to see that scene: The scene occupied with annoyance and disgust- the scene that forced my sweet brother to destroy him. Everything became blurred behind my tears and it was soon replaced by the scene of playful kids.

It was almost 1 pm; soon the bell will ring and kids will come out of their respective classes, rushing each other to get back to their homes. I, along with a guilt-made-advice stepped towards Kanav's classroom. The bell rang. I asked him to stay in the class. But he wasn't alone in the class, because every student knew it can't be a punishment for hm; might be he may get some extra sweets or something. And finally, I need to shout at them, “Move out of the class". Slowly ... slowly ... with every step they looked back and finally moved out.

Now only we both were in the class. "Mam I may miss my bus". I ignored his plea (I am still an ignorant?) and continued, "Beta you remember what all I told you in the recess?"

"Yes mam, two lovers, more love".

"Yes indeed but you need to assure me one thing- whatever you told me today, you won't share it with anyone else."

I always carried the guilt of killing my brother; but it is a fact that most parts of the society are the victims of same ignorance. They can't understand love is for soul; and soul has no gender. And since everyone can't understand this; so I think one should not come out as gay until he is sure enough that he can explain them what exactly he is as well as they are ready to understand the same. And this will only happen if the other person really deserves to know this actuality. Four years ago, my brother told me that he is in love with Meraj. I can't afford that my brother is gay and that too in love with my fiancé. I told abba everything about him. What followed this was.... The luxurious mansion lost its opulence. The interior may shines but I can hear the walls weeping till date.

But Kanav was a small kid, 10 year old kid. What he knows about love; about being gay; and about this society and culture. So, I decided to understand what all he goes through, what all he feels because more than helping him; I wanted to help me to come out of this guilt. Selfish me, and my selfish thoughts. But I still I had a doubt - Is he really gay? Or is this a random liking for someone whom you love. Since my brother's death I secretly read a lot of books on homosexuality and I decided not to come to any conclusion without any surety. Giving time; and a lot of time was the only solution left.

I want to spend time with him and annual picnic was one such day. I took permission from our principal for organizing picnic for class V this year along with Meraj. For the first time, I and Meraj went for a picnic together. But the plan didn't work as I expected. I can't give time to a single child when I was having the responsibility of the entire class. But it was the first step through which I could feel the love of Kanav towards my husband. He followed Meraj wherever he went; may it be the washroom.

One afternoon, I thought of requesting Kanav's parents to allow him to visit our home for a Sunday. They disagreed. And instead they called principal mam to know what kind of academic session is this. She knew I can't bear a child; considering my motherly desires; she requested them and they made my Sunday- Our Sunday superb.

Everyone thought I can't bear a child; but the fact is my husband doesn’t want to have a child. Because a part of guilt that covers my body is still a part of his heart. He knew why my brother committed suicide; and somewhere we both are the culprits. He never forgave me; and not yet forgiven himself. According to Islam, a sinner committed another sin by committing suicide; and we are the sinners because we are the part of his sins. The only sin of loving someone.

That particular Sunday brought a ray of hope in my life. Not just of freedom from guilt; but being loved by my husband. He kissed me for the first time that day after we were married. Meraj was never a hard man, but circumstance and time changed him a lot. We both were sometimes not able to look into each others' eyes since the guilt was so intense. He fought to his family to marry me. Yes, it was a love marriage which never ever had love after marriage.

We had lunch together that day; all three in a single plate. Because he wanted so. We played lots of games. Because he wanted so. He kissed Meraj and I did the same. Again, because he wanted so; and this is how his parents show love. And here, for him, we all three love each other.

We both enjoyed his company, and unexpectedly because of him, me and Meraj were being happier together. That Sunday followed by many such Sundays. Once a month, he uses to visit our place. Their family also invited us for dinner sometimes. Things changed day by day; month by month and finally year by year. Kanav's love, his innocent love, brought us together once again. I wanted him to lead a good life, I wanted that I should be free from guilt; but there was also something else God wanted. And our destiny was written by Him. When the things went worst between Meraj and me, and we decided for split, Kanav came to our life and changed everything.

Years passed and still Kanav use to visit our place. Now not just we two, but we all four enjoy Kanav's company. We: I, Meraj and our two sons. This year Kanav will pass-out from our school but I know now he is mature enough now to take his decisions. Since past seven years, the day he told about his feelings for Meraj till today; we shared a relation much more than of a teacher and student. He sometimes feels shy of what all he told me; but I love him for carrying such a pure heart. Now, he has a boyfriend too, I don’t know who he is but I am sure whosoever he is, he must be a nice guy. I have faith in Kanav; and I trust my Lord. May be he is not the same innocent kid, but more than that he knows who he is; proud of what he is; and most importantly he knows how to spread love; and how can a person who spreads love in everyone's life be a sinner?

The Making of "KARAN"

11 May, as your updates say, is my birthday. But, frankly speaking its not. You can wish me; I can't restrict anyone's wishes; but I think you must be aware of what you are wishing me for. Lets start with he basic ingredients in the making of Karan: Needs? Confusion? For me, they both contributed equally. And, hence started a new phase of my life, specifically gay life. I can't draw a sharp line between networking or dating; but my needs and confusions required both. Like the real world, it had the certainly similar features: it was different from what exactly looks like. You can find every kind of person right here. A single click can bring a wonderful friend in your life and the same click can introduce a sex seeker to you. More interesting cases were those who start up with friendship but end up with discussions only about sex. I didn't understood why a friend is interested in knowing my priorities on bed ?

So, 11 May 2009 was the day when Karan stepped his first step in this virtual world; when again a gay used a pseudonym to mask his orientation; when again a simple person tried understanding the complicated side of his life; and when I gradually understood Life is simple, take it simple.

I really thanks this virtual world for introducing many real friends in my life. Thanks Snoopy, Raj, Viraj, Karan, Udayan, Aaroh, Shaan, Shaan(2), Muffu, Gibben, butterscotch, Rohith, Soul, Kshitij, Sambhav, Susheel Inaayat, coolguy, Puneet, Vish, Sultry for being such a wonderful friend. If I forget your name, forgive Me.

So now you can shower your wishes over me. Because I am glad, and I am GAY :)

Valentine Night

My first coming out experience.

There was a time when manufacturing of Karan was not yet thought of. All queries that could challenge me to plan out this was under evolution to knock my mind in order to seek for a few questions. Questions that none of my acquaintance could answer, or maybe I was not courageous enough of ask them. There was a guy, precisely 19 year old, decent enough, coupled with usual confusions of many gays, in love with a guy again with the same précised age, who again was decent enough, may or may not be confused, may or may not be gay; unpredictable human psychologies. The best way to substitute these may and may not, or the best way to get answers was to ask queries.

Scratching every corner of my memory, I could collect few dead roses, a wet pillow, a long night walk, many missed calls, few smses (not replied till date), the revealing and the followed silence, still wrapped in those cells. It was 14th of Feb. last year, when finally I decided to face the exact definition of this relation: bromance or romance?

We shared a relation in which there were no blur sides, no buried truth and sometimes no serious talks. Our phone calls many a times lasted till early morning, that too after being together in college. The story even accompanied banter of being referred as gay couple. I enjoyed it but he never did. My curiosity to know the other side or my impatience to know him decided to avoid the pointless bathos in my story. Finally, I expressed whatever I feel for him on the valentine night.

"Yaa, Yaa. I am also gay. Happy and Gay", he asserted to my proposal. If not today, it will never happen, so I decided to be serious. “But I am serious this time."
"So do I. Bro, don't take those pranks so seriously.” he replied. Without discussing it further, I proposed him. "Yes, I love you." He understood my serious tone, and silence sustained for few minutes. I continued explaining him, whatever I felt or him; but everything went wrong. We finally concluded our call with no phone calls from now onwards. I was pissed off with his reaction, and I didn’t received any of his calls that night. Missed calls followed non replied smses.

It took time but I realized I was forcing him to be in my shoes, but that can't happen. If you plan to come out to someone, give him/her the proper time to digest the truth. In the end, things will be surely well. I experienced, so I can assure. I called him, but now it was time for missed calls on his cell. He was not receiving my calls. And finally I received a text message from him, “Be strict to your decision." I messed up with the relation I loved the most. A month passed with no exchange of words, and even none of our friends noticed that. Ego redefined our relation; a relation of acting like strangers. But, I knew everything will sort out with time.


In the mid of May, I discovered a video on youtube of NDTV Salaam Zindagi (broadcasted on 7th august 2008); followed by few more good videos. That was the time when I was reborn with the pseudonym Karan. I thought of explaining him everything again and in a new way, and he gave all his ears to my words. I showed him my fake profile and those videos. What I was unable to do, Karan did. Ironically, what I was unable to do, I did. He reacted differently this time, I must say positively this time. But still one question was hanging around; "Was the decision to quit talking a good option?"


And there came an unexpected answer from him, “I thought you are thinking too much over this topic because of those pranks or may be because of our long phone calls. I thought because of me, you are regarding yourself gay" Under the name of ego, care still was doing its job. And with time the same old understanding retained in our relation. Now I can discuss anything with him. Even he use to show me cute guys, ask about my dates, tease me, support me when I feel low. And I love it. Once he told me,“You don't look like a gay." Hence, I felt the importance of coming out. Not only he, there are many ignorant people around us who regards gays as feminist guys. To scratch out this age old ignorance, coming out is important. And what’s more importance is the way you come out and to whom you come out. Express as if you are explaining a nursery kid, and make sure that the kid really deserves to know who you are.


Mr. XYZ or Karan Sood

The Other Side

1. Girl friend

Lets explore about our orientation, and the only required apparatus for experiment is a girlfriend.

The "straight" gay panics:

Mammoth might kill me,
I won't sleep alone tonight.
.
.
.
Earlier who shared interests now share a relation,
Requesting a refusal to God's decision.
Under the name of sandwich, digesting
two dry pieces of bread without butter.



2. Diffusion

Sometimes, it’s just an odour that dominates every physical feature.

Fresh forever, fragranced forever,
Few artificial fruits in the basket,
decayed a lively fruit last Night.

.

.

Diffused souls, diffused fragrance.
But artificial tricks followed nature’s deception,
Certainly, he was again pricked by Light.



3.Blind

Avoid Rejection, play a blind date. But to avoid preliminary rejection, play well over the chat.

Portrayal of new patina over the same old flesh,
Fake blushes counted in,
double-entendre behind lash.
.
.
Wicked mind over the availability of space,
Beneath dubious pranks,
initiates the unhurried race.



4.Come on YM

How can you think of friendship without sharing, may it be your pics or cell numbers?

“I am just here for friendship",
moulds to "What’s your priorities?"

Unwilling display of patience,
dominated by unbearable desires.

Bathos in the dialogue delivery,
cracks the crust of lusty fire.



5.Bromance or Romance?

In love with a straight guy, why not to go for some conversion techniques?

Jack took Jill up to the hill to pour out forbidden emotions,
Jill fell down and trauma touched the ground,
Yet Jack was occupied in blind devotion.
.
.

If you can think of conversion,
and close eyes in name of dark vision,
What kind of love is there in your relation?


NOW CHECK OUT THE CRITICAL REVIEW OF THIS POEM ON The Forth Dimension


(Thoughts behind my words:

Part1: Girl Friend

These lines refers a gay, who thinks having a girl friend can change things in his life. He panics for the things that doesn't exist ( mammoth). His confusions lies between request and refusal.

Part2: Diffusion

The idea can out while reading the "about me" column of a guy, where it was written, " Body odours cannot be tolerated". Further, I tried expressing that the beauty of soul cannot be replaced with any of the artificial deo/perfume.

Part3: Blind

Blind establishes the state of mind during a blind date. The qualms and frozen desires.

Part4: Come on YM

I know all gays are quite aware how some online chats diverts unintentionally.

Part5: Bromance or Romance?

Jack is love with a straight guy, Jill. Jack's friend suggest him to try to change Jill's orientation. Jill falls refers to Jack's techniques to convert him and Jack closes his eyes refers to his act of being blind when he can find its not good what he is doing. Finally it conclude with the question mark over the kind of Jack's love.)

Personal Experience

Maintaining few millimeter distance between the paper and pen for few minutes, I let them meet to write something like "Personal experience" for Sukhdeep's magazine (Gaylaxy). The last few occupied minutes didn't questioned me to how to begin, but my mind struck over " where to begin from?" Th minute hand had completed 2 complete rounds after midnight, I, the nocturnal creature, alone in my room trying to compensate my disturbed mind with the serenity outside. Disturbed ? Sometimes, the uncertain voids never let me established the reason behind them.

Personal Experiences, should it my the coming out melodramas or the pretence play that hate playing, my romantic dating or lusty desires thereafter, few break ups, certain confusions, spoiling my college grades or whatever a 20 year old gay experience usually. but what I am thinking right now is why to write a personal experience, and why me? Why to disclose a random page of my life so publicly ?

In this invisible domain, the white as well as the black shades never form a sharp boundary with the rainbow. Internet really turned out to be very helpful in increasing the visibility of the gay world, but when the things are coming out of obscurity, the other side really disturbs me somehow. Personally, being a highly spiritual person, I feel I am really not going on the right track, tracks with hours of chatting, meeting guys and all. Once you getting into it the desires never halts. The contours you try to fit are not exactly made for the given scene. From, personal experience, I feel the young generation should know where to draw to line.

I ponder, Sukdeep's disappointment after going through these loose ends. When i was told to write about any of my life experience, I came up with the gist of my entire gay life. But, if I would having so much control over my mind, I guess I would not be having any of such gay networking Ids.

The voids or the obscure contours, my curious yet disturbed mind and his opinion finally feels its more suited as a blog entry, than in the magazine.

Fixing Frank

“If there were a pill to make you straight, would you..?” Has anyone come across this question? Among us, one may find a person who somehow, at some point of time has had to deal with this doubt, whether it is our introspective self or a third person who perceives homosexuality a choice. image011

So, “Would you?” The movie, Fixing Frank, deals with the same question of identity crisis along with the contemporary hullabaloo on the adequacy (or rather the lack of it) of so-called conversion therapy.

This movie has three characters, Frank, a freelance journalist, his therapist husband Jonathan, and Dr Apsey. Dr Apsey is seemingly the ‘villain’, a psychologist whose notion of homosexuality is that it is a choice. He has a yellow pill that he claims has the power to conform a sad homosexual into a happy satisfied heterosexual.

As movie reels on, audience not only comes across a session of plausible arguments given by Dr Apsey but also the effect building upon Frank’s mind and heart. Though these logics actually do ample harm to the lives of Frank and Jonathan, the main cause of their failing relationship happens to be something else. The story has many twists and turns. All the three characters are strong and have equal exposure throughout the movie; still Jonathan’s character could have been extended. Actors have done great work, especially Dan Butler (Dr. Apsey). Butler, openly gay, has done brilliant work in the role of homophobic psychologist Dr. Apsey. The cinematography is a bit poor in some scenes, one may feel, the movie is absorbing not only because it was an adaptation of a staged play but also the theme and the way the scriptwriter has tackled the issue of conversion therapy.

This is a must watch for our community. Seldom are movies made on such themes and seldom we get to watch a good cinema like this.

(Written for Pink Pages)

Another Country

The film opens with a scene in contemporary Moscow where a wrinkle faced old man happens to be interviewed by an American lady reporter. As their conversation proceeds with the sips of scotch, the old man reminisces his life of his school days as “you have no idea what life in England in the 1930s was like.image012 Treason and loyalty, they’re all relative, you know. Treason to what? Loyalty to whom?” And the next scene is of an English public school, back in the days of the early 1930s, where students are coming to attend morning prayers.

Another Country is about a British born spy Guy Bennett who worked for Soviet Union. How this person becomes a spy against his own country instead becoming a diplomat for his country, is quite a tale that is spun in the script. Guy Bennett is a flamboyant, spoiled brat who has certainly great amount of inclination towards his own sex; he realizes that he is homosexual while seeking a guy named Harcourt. He confesses his love for Harcourt to his best friend Tommy Judd. Tommy is a die-hard Marxist, and has such firm faith in communism that he refuses to accept any reward such as becoming Prefect under the ‘bourgeoisie’ system of English public school. Seeing the prevalent hypocrisy about homosexuality within his schoolmates, Guy at last shows rebellion at the end of the movie and Tommy agrees with him – All problems solved for life. No Commies, No Queers.

This classic movie, made in 1984 in the era when homosexuals in England were still demanding their right to live freely, had created waves. With its astounding cinematography and powerful script, Another Country certainly etches onto the viewer’s mind. Actors, Rupert Everett (Guy Bennett) and Colin Firth (Tommy Judd) have given excellent performances in their debut film. The movie is full of some memorable lines, for instance, Guy Bennett (Rupert Everett) while watching Harcourt from a distance says to himself “There’s a little hollow at the base of his throat which makes me want to pour honey all over him, and lick it off again.” And some memorable scenes too, for instance that of Harcourt’s head lying upon Guy’s chest on a still boat in the middle of night. One can also appreciate the mellifluous soundtrack playing along various parts of the movie. The film is uniquely engrossing in many ways.

(Written for Pink Pages)

Just a question of love (French)

An appreciable compilations of plethora of questions of life and desires, homosexuality and coming-out behind a single question of love.

Directed by French director Christian Faure, Just a question of love very well managed to bind me to discover the beauty of hanging questions till the last scene. The story establishes a love story of two gay men, Cedric (Stéphan Guérin-Tillié) and Laurent (Cyrille Thouvenin), one of whom is proudly out while the other still in closet. Based on the theme: Are we really love our children as they say?, the screenplay and script very well revolves around the basic idea, putting light on the difficulties faced by a gay child (Laurent) belonging to a conservative family, on the other hand depicting the support of an understanding mom of a gay son(Cedric). I really appreciate the work of entire cast, especially, Emma, Cedric's mom (Eva Darlan), and the off screen crew.

Laurent, a 23-year old college student, masks his gayness from his family by living with his best friend, Carole. During his agricultural research under Cedric, Laurent falls for him. He wants to live openly like Cedric, but certain fears halt him in doing so, whereas Cedric cares for him but does not like him to live two lives. He introduces Laurent to his mom, who accepts his son as well as his boy friend. The unwillingness of Laurent to come out to his family creates distance between them. Hence begins intense portrayal of the test of the two lovers' relations as well as the parents-son's relation.

Overall, the movie is worth watching!

(Written for Pink Pages)
( Now a part of Gaylaxy also)

The History Boys

The History Boys, a philosophical comedy-drama, is adapted by Alan Bennett from his own play. It was directed by Nicholas Hytner, director of the original production of The History Boys at the Royal National Theatre in London, and features the original cast of the play.

The portrayal of many philosophies from different perspectives is enclosed in a plot with a touch of pink. In 1983, 6 grammar school boys, Crowther, Posner, Dakin, Timms, Akthar, Lockwood, Scripps, and Rudge, obtaining highest school scores, starts their preparation to enter Oxford or Cambridge. The General Studies teacher, known by staff and boys alike by "Hector" (Richard Griffiths), is their favorite, and works alongside their deputy head and regular History teacher, Mrs. Lintott (Frances de la Tour). The headmaster, Felix (Clive Merrison), hires young contract teacher named Irwin (Stephen Campbell Moore) to assist Hector and Mrs Lintott. Irwin's teaching methodology was extremely different from the regular teachers. Discovering Hector's homosexuality and due to certain other reasons, the headmaster insists him retire early. The story also reflects the confusions and desires of gay student (Dakin).The journey from high school to Oxfords/ Cambridge through varied tracks build a highly convincing screenplay.

History boys received positive acclaim from critics. The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures named The History Boys one of the Top Ten Films in its 2006 awards. Griffiths and de la Tour received BAFTA nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

The beautiful exchange of classic dialogues deserves a onetime watch!

(Written for Pink Pages)

The Line of Beauty

" When he thought of Leo after not thinking of him for a minute or two he heard a big orchestral sound in his head. He saw Leo lying on his coat under a bush, his shirt and jersey pushed up under his armpits, his jeans and pants round his knees, small dead leaves sticking to his thighs - and he heard the astonishing chord. It was high and low at once, an abysmal pizzicato, a pounce of the darkest brass, and above it a hair raising sheen of strings. It seemed to knock him down and fling him up all in one unresisted gesture. He couldn't repeat it immediately, but after a while he would see Leo rising to kiss him, and the love-chord would shiver his skin again "

Maurice

" -- and he held out his hand. Maurice took it, and they knew at that moment the greatest triumph ordinary man can win. Physical love means reaction, being panic in essence, and Maurice saw now how natural it was that their primitive abandonment at Penge should have led to peril. They know too little about each other – and too much. Hence fear. Hence cruelty. And he rejoiced because he had understood Alec’s infamy through his own – glimpsing, not for the first time, the genius who hides in man’s tormented soul. Not as a hero, but as a comrade, had he stood up to the bluster, and found childishness behind it, and behind something else.”

Maurice

An excerpt form book Maurice -


" they played for the sake of each other and of their fragile relationship -- if one fell the other would follow. they intended no harm to the world, but so long as it attacked they must punish, they must stand wary, then hit with full strength, they must show that when two are gathered together majorities shall not triumph. "

Desires ...

On the desk of desires, I rest or rather I restrict myself between those similar faces. I stay here, I sleep here, I, a virgin piece of paper. And I am about to begin my biography, but believe me, no one ever inked it.

I don't know who all are they, but I am glad they don't recognize me, and even they can't listen the voice of my desires. Since, we all, whatever colour we carry, are made of the same raw material and by the same Creator. He, who made us, He, who made the ink, He who will give the reason for union.

I woke up in midnight, when someone opened the door, the door which was locked since I am here. The only thing I recognize of that time when I was brought here is those few words, “You are here, ink is here, but nothing could happen till someone switch on the light". My friends, the pile of pages between whom I stay (or I rest or I restrict myself or I sleep), call the person behind those words as "He". The cacophonous sound of the door made us conscious. I could smell the unsullied air, but soon I felt it’s the same that tried touching me since years, months and days. Someone (or maybe He), switched on the light, and I felt delighted and at the same time I panicked. He may recognize me. Dust, all over the desk. I thought there's only a single desk in the room, but there were many, all sheltered with dust, all victim of darkness. I tried finding the other end of the room, but I failed. The lamps on other desks were yet off. Someone else may be assigned to their desk, someone, who may be "He" but with another name.

Soon, without uttering a single word, He picked the foremost page from the pile to which I belong. It was white, the obvious choice of purity. But I don't know why "He" is spending so much time on cleaning to dust over this page. Might be because he is He, or might be someone who follows Him. With time, I could feel the swell in intensity of glow over me. Someone is surely picking up pages. Now, they no more remain virgin. But I was curious to know, what after that? What after I lose my virginity? I was waiting for years to be filled, but when I am about to be filled, I am thinking about: what next. 'He' might know the reason that why we always desire for better tomorrow rather than a present yet he never respond us. Better to say He never give us a direct answer. What’s in my destiny, what will make me absolute tonight?

A quote of joy and happiness,
or a rhyme on fire and ice,
Few words on curiosity,
or an account of love and desire?


Every passing hour intensified the light, intensified my excitement, but what if the ink get over while it’s my turn. Do they have another one? The one that I want: crimson red. If, but, how, why always conquered my juvenile psyche. Someone touched me; I can't see anything else now, just the intense glow over me. From where does this lamp borrow so many glows? And without expectations, it is sharing its warmth with me. I forget about getting filled when the elegance of the warmth felt. I realized what will happen when I ll be filled. When I am empty I could feel the utmost light.
The realization changed the aura, I felt like moving away from the light, yet close to it. Yes, I was right. The moment ink could touch me; I was far away from it. Blown with the wind, now I was in the air. Flying without any restriction, above the world so pleasing, like a bird I flied, cuddling with the air, kissing the light, I felt what I desired.
I knew it won’t last forever, but now I desired to be in the air forever. It’s not what I desire but what’s in my destiny. Soon I will land up, and don’t know who will fill me? Now will I ever be completed, but I don’t care about that, since I enjoyed my present. I yet retain my virginity, and yet I experienced love.
The rains witnessed my pleasure, or my pleasure witnessed the rains. The sprinkling droplets over me made me realize I am going to hit the earth soon. Earth? I never heard this word earlier, but it came out of me? I am wet, ready to dissolve, a crimson red drop of blood over one of my corner. Blood? I never heard this word earlier, but it came out of me? Prepared to sleep again, I was forced to lay down, no more cuddling, no more kissing. I, completely soaked with a stain. Incomplete, yet feeling complete …


And since you will never know why it happened to me, I am about to tell you the dark secret of my life. Dark: not because I regretted it, dark because you were not ready to switch on the light. Dark: because their always remained layers of dust around us. Dark, because so is the nature of ink. Dark: because everyone desire for the ink. But that does not trouble me anymore, and I can freely share that I had been a virgin Pink page once. Pink, not just the colour for the queer but the best. And to be the best, enlightenment is what you should desire. I am pink, I am enlightened, yet the dilemma is: Am I still virgin?

( Now a part of Gaylaxy )

Against Nature?

Against Nature? is an exhibition on homosexuality in animals made by the Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway. The exhibition focuses on occurrence and function of homosexuality in animals, and is the first of its kind.

The museum says one of its aims is to "help to de-mystify homosexuality among people... we hope to reject the all too well known argument that homosexual behaviour is a crime against nature." Most of the exhibition is based on the works of Bruce Bagemihl and Joan Roughgarden.

Today we know that homosexuality is a common and widespread phenomenon in the animal world. Not only short-lived sexual relationships, but even long-lasting partnerships; partnerships that may last a lifetime.

The exhibit displays a small selection of the more than 1500 species where homosexuality has been observed. This fascinating story of the animals' secret life is told by means of models, photos, texts and specimens. The visitor will be confronted with all sorts of creatures from tiny insects to enormous spermwhales.

The exhibition ran from September 2006 to August 2007. It was well received, including by the museums regular visiting groups, mainly families. The exhibit is currently on tour. It has been on show in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Maastricht, and is currently on show in Genova and in Stockholm (in the latter as "Rainbow Animals").

Source: Wikipedia

I ask myself, seldom answering.

I woke up with a dream, and thought of moulding them in words. I wrote it in one-run so that I should not land up in the reality before I conclude this poem.

I dedicate this to someone who will never understand it's for him.

As if I seized my world all around you,

In the book named “My life”,

There’s no chapter after “You”.

While walking thoughtless on a curious road,

Even blurred images are suddenly cured.

I ask myself, seldom answering.

“Are you happy in your love life?”

Fear drop all over my nerves,

Not for the query, but for the “Yes”.

Selfish thoughts over my dry eyes,

Or dry thoughts over my selfish eyes.

I ask myself, seldom answering.

Yet …

I still wait for the day, you will ask me-

“Do you still love me?”

I will be seized for the one last time,

I will overlook all the curious thoughts,

I will ask my tears to flow for a change,

Everything reflected through my“Yes”.

Yes, I still love you.

Selfish me, with my”self” in you.

Crimson red

The buoyancy of those "lovely" thoughts plucked me from the garden of desires, raised me to the cloud nine, “yes, this is the time to reap", they whispered, but how long can I challenge the gravity pull?
Lovely, or probably "friendly" or "lusty", not just three words, but three perspectives. And I never wanted to bind this account to any particular angle and inclination, since I knew how they felt, even if I never accepted. They, not "He", "He" and "me", but "I”,"I" and "I" constituted this account, an account or just an unfinished page from their biographies.

Sheldon
23 June 09, 8 p.m.
May be coincidence, but we both shared the same colour to be honored as our favorite, and for the very obvious reason, this colour need to witness these wonderful moments today. The love in me cannot be focused on a single person; I love each and every person in my life. And, this is what I am made for, loving. But I don’t know why its tending to segregate in the corner of my heart reserved only for Ansh. Before my mind gets struck over these thoughts of love and life, I mingled these chains of thoughts with: “Had I done all my preparations for today's Dinner?"
"Yaa, I am almost done", but why to take a chance. Let me go through the check list:

* Butter paneer masala: Ready. ( I just love to cook for him)
* Naan: I need to order them once he arrive (He never minds in referring to my inefficiency of cooking naan)
* Mong daal halwa: ready ( I dont like it much, but you now know, who ll appreciate it)
* Starters on the table and Chocolates in the freezer.

Feelings within, smile on the face,taste in the food, yet missing was our color.

Candles, crimson red. Curtains, crimson red.
The ribbons of the night, crimson red.
My other side, crimson red.

Three years, not just of my graduation, but when I experienced most from my life. Yet, I still regret the number of times I seized voice from my words. This will gonna be another such night, and undoubtedly my last night in this wonderful city, where I realized for the time what love is. Probably we will meet again, may be in months or years, but things won't be the same. And how can I expect them to me, distance really creates distance. But there’s still an appreciable life above all these regrets, the life shared with him.


Neel
23 June 09, 8 30 p.m.
May be coincidence, but we both shared the same colour to be honored as our favorite, and for the very obvious reason, this colour need to witness these wonderful moments today. Seldom have I encountered my desires since I know it’s futile to let them shape their own way. I turned 22 last night, still single, still virgin. How long am gonna cover my sexual desires under the name of masturbation, watching porn or unusual erections at public places? Before getting into a relationship its important to know, that are we both comfortable with the physical relationship or not. He won't understand these things, all he wants is to name the relation, and may it remain misnomer. Anyways, I know he won't regret my initiation but it won't be love, but just sex. Not any union of souls, without any halo, without touching eternal grounds.
He was on time with the same innocent smile, the same bright eyes reflecting enormous love for me. Hope he don't accept commitment from me after this night. Its better to leave it on time, the night is ours, the stars and the moon so elegant, witnessed by our colour.

My T shirt, crimson red. Condoms, crimson Red.
The liquid of the night, crimson red.
Inside me, crimson red.


Ansh
23 June 09, 10 30 p.m.
May be coincidence, but we both shared the same colour to be honored as our favorite, and for the very obvious reason, this colour need to witness these wonderful moments today. I was on time and I was late too. He was satisfied and so was he, and ironically I was struggling between the confusions of the satisfying desires. I was not sure what exactly I wanted, and may be they were also in the same dilemma. Anyways, I left everything on time.
He was different this night, He, the reasons behind my masturbation. He, the reason behind those hormonal secretions. A single knock welcomed me with an unforgettable kiss. He kissed me for the first time, and may be the last. I was welcomed as never before, and I left that place as never before, without even uttering a word I left that place, left him, left that crimson red night.

Few spots, crimson red. Curious dots, crimson red.
Jovial desires, crimson red.
Dying Roses, crimson red.

Till I could reach Sheldon's place, the past hour with Neel left strong images behind my cornea that I couldn't even felt the traffic outside, the vociferous sounds, the darkness or the headlights chasing me. The time between my second knock at the door and Sheldon's welcome smile was enough for me to realize that it wasn't love, but even I wasn't sure that was it just sex? Dilemmas and confusions are always there in relations, that why I want them to be named for the sake of emotions.
But, soon dying roses regained life this night. Tomorrow's distance brought us closer this night, his love was only for me this night, and I named it love this night. I made love for the first time in my life, the love when two souls united, me and Sheldon.

( Now a part of Gaylaxy )

Before Night Falls

” My name for the moment is Reinaldo Arenas. I am an exiled Cuban writer. I live in New York City. I write and I survive. I am not religious, I am homosexual and at the same time anti-Castro. I meet all the conditions of never publishing a single novel. “

– Reinaldo Arenas

Based on the memoir published posthumously, Before Night Falls is a biographical film of Cuban poet and writer Reinaldo Arenas. However the screenplay is based on several of Arenas’ other works like Singing From the Well and The Hallucinations.

In an episodic way of narrated events, this film shows the pheasant childhood and impoverished youth of the poet, an ardent celebrant of the revolution ( “Long Live Fidel! Viva Fidel!”), and later conflict with the Castro regime due to his writing and homosexuality, subsequent imprisonment and exile to New York City in 1980, followed by Arenas’ struggle with AIDS and eventual suicide (aged forty seven) in 1990.

Directed by artist-director Julian Schnabel who is the master of portraying biographies of artists on the silver screen, this second film of his is nonetheless an example of his excellence like his other works. His cinema is like poetry on silver screen. With beautiful cinematography and editing, the director has successfully presented Reinaldo’s life and work in a graceful manner.

Javier Bardem who has played Reinaldo Arenas has undoubtedly done a wonderful job. He looks like he has absorbed each nuance of the poet’s life, and in the same way he has executed his skills, and thus this Spanish actor went on to receive a nomination for an Academy Award for best actor. Among other supporting casts, cameo of Johnny Depp (in dual roles) as drag queen Bon-Bon who helps Arenas to smuggle his writings out of prison and Lieutenant Victor overseeing the prison, have been quite a showcase of Depp’s versatile acting. Olivier Martinez who played as Lazaro has also been effective in his short role.

With the slight feel of a documentary (and indeed, showing some archival footages), this film is sometimes unpleasant because of its stark realism. Nevertheless, it is a thought-provoking, poignant drama and yet a beautiful example of real cinema. Overall it is a worth watch.

(Written for Pink Pages)

The Bubble

Sometimes we might think that we live in a bubble, in our own world, without paying heed to the day-to-day violence-war-hatred-etcetera spread around us. Two lovers may forget the world. Hu-Buah (or ‘the Bubble’), in Hebrew language, presents before us the short “insignificant” lifespan of Noam and Ashraf. Insignificant because no matter how many lives it gobbles, the monster of war never seems to cease its hunger and this relativity makes ‘love’ insignificant (Pardon the pessimistic me!). This movie in its preproduction stage was to be named ‘Romeo & Julio’. So ‘The Bubble’ is a 21st century romantic tragedy in which the lovers are not only gay but also they belong to two separate races and religions which seemingly hate each other since the birth of mankind (Why can they not peace out?)

The Bubble is the latest film by Eyton Fox, top notch director of Israeli Cinema. Openly gay Eyton has done many similar projects in his career and has always come up with a different theme and genre each time. Though romanticism always has been a main part of his films, he has proficiently depicted various issues and many aspects of Israeli life. Thus his movies can be a window to Israel and the country’s tolerance of LGBT people for the world audience.

The central theme is kind of obvious when I say that it is a modern Romeo & Juliet. But let me warn you before you jump to any conclusions that this is cliché cinema. No, it is not. Under the very keen and smart direction The Bubble proves itself a refreshing flick. The film is about Noam, a young gay guy who while working at a checkpoint on his reserve duty happens to lock eyes with a young Palestinian man there, Ashraf. After finishing his military duty, Noam returns to Tel-Aviv where he lives with another gay man, Yelli who works in a restaurant, and the flamboyant girl Lulu. They lead a happy-go-lucky life. And one day Ashraf comes to their place and love stems between Noam and Ashraf.

The film can boast of several memorable scenes: one of them is when Ashraf comes to Noam’s place to return his passport and then on the terrace, while Noam shows him the skyline of the city, Ashraf kisses him. Another beautifully done scene is that of their love making. The climax is almost icoinic.

Coming on the acting part and the cinematography I want to once again applaud the director. The entire cast especially the four main characters have done an excellent job by acting as naturally as possible, there is no hint of articulation while they delivered their dialogues. At the end of this review, all I can say is that it’s refreshing, cute and provides perspective. Watch it without any reservations and you will enjoy it.

(Written for Pink Pages)

The Pregnant King

“It will not make sense to your logical mind. You will say, a parent is a parent, whether you are father or mother. But it is not the same. I cannot explain. You have to experience it. All I know is what I feel. I feel, while there is sweetness when your son calls you “father”, there is more sweetness when he calls you “mother”.”

These are the words of Yuvanashva, a king, who has ‘conceived’ and given birth to a son, and longing to be addressed as ‘mother’. But he is never acknowledged with that, because as per tradition, only a woman can be a mother and a woman can never be a king. Faced with this dilemma, will the ‘dharma’ validate Yuvanashva’s wishes? Will society accept him the way he has come to be?

The Pregnant King is a work of fiction by Dr. Devdutt Patnaik. Though the author’s other works encompassing his research on rituals and symbols abundant in Hindu mythology are considered non-fiction, this novel of his narrates the story of the King of Vallbhi, Yuvanashva. Vallbhi was the neighboring kingdom to Hastinapur according to the ancient text Mahabharata. The events mentioned in the book chronologically go parallel to the events that happened in lives of the Pandvas and Kaurvas.

The style of writing and narration is very easy to follow, and though the plot sounds bulky, the writer has skillfully knitted every story into the narration. Another notable thing in this book is the fact that there are many places where sexual terms could have gone explicit, and in these places the symbolisms used by the author sound clever. While at times it is fun to read, at others the reader can feel his eyes moistening. This entire novel is an exquisite piece of information and philosophy that is not only understood by intellect but by the heart too.

Concluding, I’ll quote the author’s words that appear in the foreword of the book, “Did the events actually happen? Does it matter? Is it really about Shilavati, Yuvanashva, Shikhandi or Somvati? Or is it about love, law, identity, gender, power and wisdom? The impossibility of universal fairness?”

(Written for Pink Pages)

The Boyfriend

One fine Sunday morning, Yudi (an ‘Americanized’ version of Yudhishtir) meets a boy Milind who is half his age while looking for a ‘bite’ around a public loo at a local train station. And from that day onwards Yudi’s life takes a rollercoaster ride of comic-tragic events.

The Boyfriend, is a novel by famous Indian LGBT writer, poet and activist R. Raj Rao, who in fact not an unfamiliar name among Indian subcontinent literary circles. He came up with his first novel and first gay novel of India. Already causing a stirring in the Indian media with his collection of poems narrating the short film BomGay in year 1999, this novel published in 2003 by Penguin India was acclaimed as one of year’s finest books.

The setting of the novel is the heart of Mumbai (then Bombay). The events that take place in the story happen ten years before the book was published. The omnipresent ‘invisible’ gay culture in Mumbai – whether it is the lookout of the public loo, or the weekend hangout in Testeostone – the only gay bar in the city; or greasing the palms of police; or the kissing in the Irani restaurant – this book somehow familiarizes the readers to the ‘closets’ and gays. The story can be treated as a love story with a happy tryst of two lovers to heart-wrenching parting with a pragmatically sentimental ending. However, the writer has managed to avoid every kind of hanky-panky and come up with a dry, satirical humor that makes this nove a fun read. Also the writer’s attempts to sketch the contemporary issues of Indian culture like caste, class, poverty, illiteracy, slums etc. in witty, irreverent humor are worthy of praise. R. Raj Rao compares untouchability with homosexuality, when one of his protagonists Yudi (who is Brahmin by caste) says to dalit boy Milind ” “Homos are no different from Bhangis. Both are Untouchables. I am a homosexual. Gay by caste. Gay by religion.” “Outcastes” he says, “can only expect to be friends with outcastes.” “

The storyline goes like this. Yudi or Yudhishthir who is in his 40s is a freelance journalist, lives in the suburbs of Nalla Sopara, Mumbai. He is gay who is used to picking up boys from public toilets or some parks or from local trains. One day he meets a 19 year old dalit boy Milind Mahadik. Some days after this meeting, Mumbai burns with the infamous communal riots of the year 1993. Though Yudi never felt sentiments about his previous ‘guys’, he worries about the safety of Milind. He even goes on a lookout for Milind but his efforts remain futile until one day, after some months, he meets him, working as a peon. After this more trysts take place and they get ‘married’. Meanwhile a neurotic woman named Gauri comes in the life of Yudi who falls in love with him and tries to ’straighten’ him. Already ‘woman-phobic’, Yudi does everything to avoid her advances. Months later Milind again disappears and this makes Yudi’s life miserable. Milind appears again and then he gets married, knowing this Yudi, becomes all the more obsessive and longs for Milind. Through these hard times Gauri helps him to reduce his misery by becoming his friend with a sisterly affection.

The ending is quite pragmatic but surprising. The story may not strike a chord, still it leaves an indelible effect on the reader. All in all, it is fun and easy to read. And with this book the author has been successful to be in the league of the evolving genre of both Indian English writing and LGBT Indian Literature.

(Written for Pink Pages)