The Pink Mirror (2003)

Original title

गुलाबी आइना

Directed by

Sridhar Rangayan

Genre

LGBTQ-related film

Country

India

Runtime

35 min

Rating

4.5 of 10 from 11 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

Two trans women and a gay teenager try to seduce a man named Samir. The film shows their lives and desires in a society that often misunderstands and mocks them.

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What happens

The Pink Mirror, titled Gulabi Aaina in India, is an Indian film drama produced and directed by Sridhar Rangayan. It is said to be the first Indian film to comprehensively focus on Indian transsexuals with the entire story revolving around two transsexuals and a gay teenager's attempts to seduce a man, Samir (Rufy Baqal). The film explores the taboo subject of transsexuals in India which is still much misunderstood and ridiculed. In 2003, the Central Board of Film Certification banned this film. The censor board cited that the film was 'vulgar and offensive'. The filmmaker appealed twice again unsuccessfully. The film still remains banned in India, but was screened at numerous festivals all over the world and won awards. The critics have applauded it for its sensitive and touching portrayal of marginalized communities. India's foremost gay activist Ashok Row Kavi says in his review, "The wonder is that it was not made before. The reality is that it is here now." India's leading newspaper, The Indian Express, wrote, "This is more than just the 'peeping into the closet' that Rangayan intended. It's almost throwing the doors wide open for the world to look in!" The film has received tremendous support and critical acclaim from reviewers, festival directors and global audiences. It was screened at more than 70 international film festivals and won a couple of awards. The film is also used as part of university archives and libraries as resource material in academic courses. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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