Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Quest for Love, Respect, Freedom and Acceptance by LGBTQ Community Through Indian Cinema

Abstract

The LGBT community is subject to gender-based violence and other violations of human rights since these laws are invisible to the public. Film has unquestionably been important to the LGBT movement in India. Like many contemporary movements, the queer movement in India seeks to change ingrained social mores, notably the pervasive notion that sexual orientation is merely a phase. Film is viewed as a social cycle in which audience members interpret signs or messages that are broadcast to them using their aural and visual senses. The movies have become much too popular a tourist attraction. Dramatic cinematography and sound film in an exhibition of copying not only shocks us but also holds our attention. Film has the power to captivate audiences, educate viewers, and shift the collective conscience. This huge growth of Bollywood in India and overseas is described by “Jaikumar (2006)” in his book ‘Film Towards the End of Empires’. Bollywood, an Indian film industry powerhouse, mimics and analyzes the public's credit, complexity, genuine elements, and deceptions via a variety of narrative perspectives. As a result, our worldview and general awareness are shaped by Bollywood This Research paper sets out to examine the mainstream treatment of homosexuality in Hindi films, with a focus on how the LGBT community is depicted. And how they fight for their rights for freedom, love, respect and acceptance in the society. The arrival of cinema in India's LGBT community was unquestionably a game-changer. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons are all part of the sexual minority. Among the numerous nations where homosexuality is still frowned upon one is India. In colonial India, the British enacted Section 377 of the Indian Criminal Code, which still exists today and criminalises homosexuality. In this paper, we have shown Hindi cinema’s representation of the LGBTQ community in films like Badhaai Do, Kapoor & Sons, Dear Dad, Ek Ladki ko Dekha to Aisa Laga, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan and their struggle and acceptance in the society in the 21st century.