Melbourne on his mind

Mona

Onir was called a ‘filmmaker far ahead of his time’ when he came out with My Brother…Nikhil, one of the pioneer mainstream Hindi films that dealt with same-sex relationship back in 2005. Almost two decades on, as his film Pine Cone explores the queer love story of a filmmaker, the label still sticks to him. “I feel I and my cinema would be accepted fully by our film fraternity and the society only posthumously,” chuckles the jovial man, as we talk about his most recent outing Nandini!

Nandini is part of an anthology titled My Melbourne that opens at prestigious Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2024. The four stories capturing the essence of belonging and diversity are directed by Kabir Khan, Imtiaz Ali and Rima Das along with Onir. The stories cross paths and give the feel of a single film.

“Nandini is special, because just like other three stories – Jules, Emma and Setara, it stems from personal experience,” says Onir. Nandini follows a queer Indian man looking for acceptance from his father. “The story is representative of many queer Indians who chart foreign shores to seek acceptance,” says Onir.

Onir has another reason to be joyous. It’s not just My Melbourne but another of his film, Kagazi Naav (Paper Boat), will also premiere at the festival. It’s a Kashmiri language short film made under a film workshop mentored by Onir. “I am excited for this too as it is directed by first-time filmmakers and is set in Kashmir that has my heart.”

As he gears up for these two premieres, he is happy at the attention Pine Cone is receiving at the festival circuit. “Not only internationally but the film is being loved and appreciated in Indian cities as well, both big and small, and that is so heartening,” he says.

While Onir never had his ‘coming out’ date as he was open about his sexual orientation, he feels times have changed for the queer community in India. “I didn’t have to go through a formal coming out. It was a natural progression, just as it is for any straight individual. It still wasn’t easy as homosexuality was criminalised back then.”

Over the decades things have improved and Onir is happy that today the queer community has support, can access information through films, literature and social media platforms. But it’s still not an equal world. “There are way too many barriers – caste, class, religion, and for the queer community, the challenges multiply.” Like for instance, the fight for marriage rights as far as the queers are concerned. “While marriage rights would be a significant step forward, it would lead to other things like adoption rights.”

Onir is happy how queerness is becoming visible increasingly. “It’s heartening that the Paris Olympics have 175 out trans athletes. Their stories and visuals spread awareness and positivity about community.”

Closer home, the gender fluidity and queer rights for him are rooted in our culture. “It’s like as if the young are reclaiming the roots. In Indian culture, there has been long standing tradition of queerness — be Krishna taking Mohini’s form to kill invincible demon Bhasmasura to Arjun taking form of transgender woman named Brihannala in King Matsya’s court during final year of exile, now the young are embracing their identity, and also have increasing support.”

Inclusive world

My Melbourne that opens IFFM 2024 is an anthology of four films. Onir-directed Nandini follows a queer Indian man reconnecting with his father on foreign shores. Imtiaz Ali’s Jules has an unlikely friendship between a newlywed and a homeless individual at its heart. Rima Das directorial Emma follows a deaf dancer’s journey to self-acceptance. Kabir Khan-directed Setara is a story of an Afghan refugee finding an identity through cricket.