Sridhar Rangayan

About a month ago, in what can only be described as a liberating order, the Apex Court de-fanged the British era Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which deemed that gay sex is a punishable offence. With the passing of the order, people from the LGBTQ+ community in India are now under no legal threat.

Amidst the plethora of film festivals in India, some offer a unique insight into the world of cinema- by focusing on specific themes, or by catering to a niche audience. Here is a list of seven such film festivals that need to be on any film buff’s ‘must-visit’ list!

Activist, writer and filmmaker Sridhar Rangayan’s 2003 film Gulabi Aaina (The Pink Mirror) was banned by the Central Board of Film Certification. It has finally released on Netflix worldwide. Sridhar speaks to TBI about the long wait, his journey, inspirations, and the film he is currently working on.

The founder and festival director of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, Sridhar will be the Grand Marshal at Montreal Pride parade to be held on August 14, 2016.

Sridhar Rangayan’s film ‘Breaking Free’ will be part of Indian Panorama - the government’s 21 non-fiction film showcase. It is a documentary that exposes the human rights violations faced by gay, lesbian and transgender persons due to section 377.

Purple Skies - a film that portrays the voices of lesbians, bisexuals and transmen in India, has been granted a Universal (U) certificate by the censor board. After being broadcast on Doordarshan earlier this year, it is all set to be screened across the country now.