Curated for Pride Library, University of Western Ontorio, Canada
Copyright Sridhar Rangayan, 2009
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DISCLAIMER: All interpretations and readings is by the author. All the images and videos on this site have been used only for reference, collated from sources on the internet.
CREDITS
Title: Calcutta Pride March 2004
Year: 2004
Language:
Subtitles : English
Genre: Short / Documentary
Duration: 12 mins
Director: Tejal Shah
SYNOPSIS
In June 1999 a small group of hijras, kothis (transsexuals) and gay men walked down the streets of Calcutta calling it a 'friendship walk', a walk to assert the rights of sexuality and gender minorities - homosexuality remains criminalized in India under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code [IPC]. This was a landmark event in the history of the LGBT movement in India and grew into an annual event called 'Walk On The Rainbow', the first pride march ever to be held in India.
'Calcutta Pride March' documents the second Pride March held in Calcutta in 2004, which brought together participants from West Bengal, New Delhi, Sri Lanka, Thailand and many other places.
As the film interviews onlookers, participants, cops and plainclothes intelligence agents many things rise to the surface: media representations of the LGBT community, people's curiosity and discomfort, issues of visibility and invisibility, ignorance and prejudice, choice and pride.
QUEER NOTES
A documentary that not only records a historic event but also attempts to initiate a dialog about gender, identity, sexuality and the society�s attitude towards people from sexual minorities.
LINKS
Official Website: http:// http://www.magiclanternfoundation.org/
queer portrayals in Indian films