PEER REVIEWED
https://doi.org/10.51897/interalia/VSFT4049
Out of the Closet and Into the Mainstream: Queer Representation in Indian Cinema Before and After Legal Milestones
Disha
Abstract
Indian films have evolved from barely acknowledging queer individuals to placing them at the centre of mainstream stories. This transformation has paralleled major shifts in India’s legal landscape and societal attitudes. This paper examines how LGBT+ representation in Indian cinema changed before and after two landmark legal milestones: the 2018 decriminalisation of homosexuality and the 2023 denial of same-sex marriage rights. It argues that while queer characters are now more visible and portrayed with more empathy, they are often shown only in homonormative ways, that is, fitting into traditional norms of family, marriage, and respectability. In other words, Indian cinema’s new “queer-friendly” stance tends to accept LGBT+ characters only when they behave “like everyone else.” Drawing on queer theory and cultural studies, the paper offers a fresh perspective on this trend and highlights whose stories are being told and who remains in the shadows. The conclusion discusses the way forward for truly inclusive and bold queer storytelling on screen, urging Indian cinema to embrace diversity beyond assimilation.
Keywords: Indian cinema, LGBT+ representation, queer visibility, homonormativity, intersectionality, legal change
