Who knew I would ever have the chance to watch a self-distributed Indian queer film in a PVR? Thanks to the film’s director, Sridhar Rangayan, who invited the Gaysi Family to the premiere on February 21 at Citi Mall, Andheri (Mumbai). Rangayan is known for films like The Pink Mirror (2003) and Purple Skies (2014) and is the founder and festival director of the Kashish Film Festival. Kuch Sapney Apne is also a sequel to Rangayan’s 2018 work, Evening Shadows.

“It is a film about the community, made by the community, but intended for mainstream audiences. We are proud to include the participation of the LGBTQ+ community, who came together for several scenes. They bring a touch of diversity and authenticity to the film,” said Rangayan.

The film opens with a clear purpose: it is dedicated to the parents of queer children. There is a heartwarming cameo by Sweekar in the second half that is sure to bring a few tears. (Sweekar is a support organization for parents coming to terms with their children’s queerness and helps sensitize parents to LGBTQ+ issues.)

Some Sapne (Dreams) Shattered

Right from the opening shot, we meet Kartik (played by Satvik Bhatia), aka Kuku, a queer photographer in his mid-20s, showing his partner Aman (played by Arpit Chaudhary), or Amu, around Sweden. He is there for a photography workshop and is navigating a tricky friendship with a local student, Stefan.

Stefan (played by Teodor Wickenbergh) does not hide his feelings for Kartik and consistently makes advances, despite Kartik’s discomfort (hello, POSH?). One thing leads to another, and Kartik hooks up with Stefan just as he is about to return to Mumbai to his partner of eight years, Aman.

The film’s first half focuses on how Kartik and Aman’s relationship is tested, highlighting their personal boundaries and demonstrating how their bond remains strong despite challenges. It is filled with wholesome moments that we don’t often see on screen—kudos to that!

A Bit of Parivarik (Familial) Drama

We also learn that Kartik hails from a conservative South Indian family—actually, his father is the only conservative member; his mother and aunts support him wholeheartedly.

A brief overview of Kartik’s family:

His mother, Vasudha (played by Mona Ambegaonkar), is a talented painter but faces constant criticism from her husband, Damodar (played by Shishir Sharma).

His aunt, Sarita (played by Yamini Singh), is an icon with a great sense of humor, but she is also a domestic violence survivor who has fallen in love with her pen-friend, Srinivas (played by Yatin Karyekar).

His aunt, Rama (played by Abhay Kulkarni), is a trans woman on her own journey, navigating between familial responsibilities and self-discovery (more on her later).

Rama’s wife, Lata (played by Veenah Naair), is aware of Rama’s trans identity and supports her, despite feeling abandoned in her role as a wife and partner.

Very little is known about Aman’s family; they are only mentioned towards the end of the second half, when Aman opens up to Amma (Vasudha). Their conversation serves as a healing moment for queer audience members, as Vasudha steps up to be not just Aman’s mother-in-law but also the accepting parental figure he has yearned for.

Some Apne (Our) Feelings

Priya Dali (she/they), the Creative Director of Gaysi Family, resonated with Kartik’s reality: “The way the father blames the mother mirrors my own experiences. All my achievements, and whatever little difference I’m able to make with my art and work, must be hidden. I find myself pretending that nothing significant has happened. I know my mother stands by me, but she cannot speak up for me in public due to fear of my dad’s reaction.”

What truly captured my heart in this film was the soundtrack. It’s rare to hear collaborations from Rekha and Vishal Bharadwaj featuring Sushant Divgikar and Shaan (yes, Shaan) that explore queer heartbreak, joy, and love. I’m still waiting for the tracks to be available on Spotify so I can fully embrace the melodies!

Kuch (Some) Final Observations

However, a few hiccups remain. Queer films are often created with two mindsets: for queer folk or for non-queer folk. This film fluctuates between the two, causing it to lose structure at times. Nonetheless, it remains a worthy watch thanks to the cast’s stellar performances (shout out to Shishir Sharma’s expressive acting).

The second hiccup is more of an observation: the film contains a plethora of rainbow and color-adjacent metaphors throughout its script.

Trigger Warning: Mention of Domestic Abuse

Additionally, the bond between Rama and her nephew Kartik is somewhat underexplored. Why is it that Rama, as a trans woman, is portrayed as choosing begging as part of her new life rather than embracing her transition and seeking employment, thus addressing the topics of trans employment and housing crises? Kartik is one of the first people to support his aunt’s transition, so why does he only take his mother to Mumbai after his father assaults her?

Still, I urge everyone to take the time to show this film to your parents and relatives. The beauty of queer films lies in their lack of universality; you will always find multiple experiences woven into the fabric of a single story. This film has something for everyone to take away!