A more curiously odd and campy film I cannot imagine. India is a country surely still struggling with the issue of homosexuality, so it's no surprise that a modern film from that country can be very open and honest while still having lingering stereotypes and feel almost like a modern-day "Boys in the Band." Its naive innocence, its struggle to be understanding and, most importantly, its charming humor allow it to be forgiven almost any transgression.

The film centers around a 3 person dynamic of a male and female both in love with the same man. There is a lot more going on than just this however, with the interplay of relationships here, but to talk too much about it spoils many of the film's fun surprises. When the man invites his ex- boyfriend, gay friends, a closeted TV star, his sister and her fiance to a party, the interplay of the characters gets to be both hilarious and troubling. There is a serious core to the film, yet the script's overtly (almost queeny) gay humor often provides huge bellylaughs.

Of course, much humor is also provided by the cultural differences between this film and typical Hollywood fare. This film is made in India and features an all Indian cast. However, it is also mainly in English (with some native language included and subtitled) and much of the cast talks with the British accents associated with a country which was once under the rule of the crown. But the British accents and the colloquialisms uttered by tanned-skinned native people seem hilarious much of the time. When the characters, in particular the queeny gay characters say something that sounds oh-so European (i.e. white), it can often be followed by serious guffaws emanating from the English speaking audience. (I am using the word native here, by the way, because I am ignorant, unsure of the proper words to use). I even wonder if some of the dialogue was dubbed by other actors (to make it easier for "white" audiences to understand).

This same cultural difference, if you will, can often be seen in the filmmaking. Now, I imagine, that this film is rather a low-budget, independent piece, even though it comes from a country that rivals America in its celluloid output. This film is often choppy and the music is almost always inappropriate and often raises to the level of cacophonous. It just seems ham-handed by American standards and this often evokes some unintentional laughter as well.

But it is impossible to deny the underlying charm and sweetness of the film. The drama is interesting, even to urbane Americans, because it is subject matter that has not really been tapped well by Hollywood. And the insight to the cultural evolution of a country like Indian, going through growing pains that mirror much of our own while also seeming hopelessly naive and yet modern can be fascinating.

Sure, in America, this is another one of those gay films that is "preachin' to the choir" but the hope and joy of the film lies in the idea that in some other countries, like India, this won't so much be the case.

Note:

In English and sparse foreign language with subtitles.

Directed by Mahesh Dattani.

The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival boasted the "World Premiere" of this film. According to an Agliff staffer, Dave, who introduced the film, it was stopped at customs in some foreign country when the addressee (Agliff) was noted and the film was confiscated as pornography. Also, when the film arrived the final reel was missing but the festival was able to obtain the final reel before the showing.

Report Card Script: A- Acting: B Cinematography\Lighting: B- Special Effects\Make Up: C+ Music: A Final Grade: A-

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