The queer rhetoric of Bollywood: A case of mistaken identity

• Authors: Rohit K. Dasgupta

Title variants

PL

Bollywoodzka retoryka queer: Tożsamościowe qui pro quo

• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The paper addresses the queer representation of fictional characters and gay framing, analyzing the concept of "dosti" and "yaarana" and the trope of the homo-social triangle in Hindi cinema. This film trajectory presupposes the existence of homosexuality but relies on the inevitability of heterosexuality. This strand explores traditional social themes such as love, family, tradition but within this builds up an alternative "invisible" queer narrative. By acknowledging the slippages between "real identity" and "mistaken identity" the films usher in a new queer cinematic discourse within popular Bollywood. In this paper I will chiefly look at Nikhil Advani and Karan Johar's Kal Ho Na Ho (If Tomorrow Never Comes, 2004); and Tarun Mansukhani and Karan Johar's Dostana (Friendship, 2008) and see how Queer Representations in Indian Cinema address the invisibile queer politics through a case of mistaken identity(ies).

PL

Artykuł analizuje queerowe ujęcia postaci literackich i homoseksualności w indyjskim kinie hindi, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem pojęć dosti i yaarana oraz tropu trójkąta homospołecznego. Wybrana seria filmów zakłada istnienie homoseksualności, jednocześnie postulując nieuchronność heteroseksualności. Filmy te skupiają się na tradycyjnych tematach społecznych, takich jak miłość, rodzina czy tradycja, ale w obrębie tej tematyki budują alternatywne, „niewidoczne” narracje queerowe. Uwzględniając przenikanie się „prawdziwej” i „błędnie przypisanej tożsamości”, filmy te wprowadzają do kina Bollywoodzkiego nowy queerowe dyskurs filmowy. Odwołując się przede wszystkim do filmów Nikhila Advani i Karana Johara Kal Ho Na Ho (Jeżeli jutro nigdy nie nadejdzie, 2004) oraz Taruna Mansukhani i Karana Johara Dostana (Przyjaźń, 2008), autor ukazuje, jak queerowe przedstawienia w kinie indyjskim stanowią niewidzialną politykę queer wykorzystując przypadki „błędnie przypisanej tożsamości”.

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Warszawski. Instytut Studiów Iberyjskich i Iberoamerykańskich
• Journal: InterAlia: Pismo poświęcone studiom queer
• Year: 2012
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 4

Dates

published

2012

Contributors

author

Rohit K. Dasgupta

• University of the Arts, London

References

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