Gay Film I Am Banned From Public TV In India

I’ve mentioned before that one of the biggest public debates in the world over homosexuality is going on in India, where decriminalisation has finally allowed many to express their sexuality but also set off a backlash by more conservative elements.

Earlier this year the film I Am, directed by Onir, surprised many when it picked up Best Hindi Feature Film at the National Film Awards, India’s most prestigious film awards ceremony. I Am tells four separate stories, one about child abuse, one about gay rights, one about Kashmir and one about sperm donation, all of which are big issues in India today.

However the movie has now been banned from public TV channel Doordarshan by the Indian Censor Board, which deemed its themes too adult for the station. The film could be shown on satellite channels but not on the major channel with the biggest potential audience.

Director Onir told The Times Of India, !The Censor Board had asked us to make a few cuts in the film and despite having cut seven minutes of the film and all abuses we are refused whereas the same TV shows other much more adult stuff. I am dismayed at the double standards of the censor board… I’m angry at this because, when so many regressive films screen on DD, a national award film is denied the same! I am appalled when a gay relation is termed abnormal. Isn’t it a violation of the Delhi High Court’s judgment three years ago on IPC 377 legalising same sex relationships and despite that the Indian Censor board still does not respect the decision? I mean come on, kids learn about sperms in school and children need to learn to respect diversity from a young age to be able to respect everyone.”