Mumbai: “Does the gay community not exist for the Indian censor board?" This is the question that writer Apurva Asrani, who scripted the highly lauded film, Aligarh, wants to ask. The film talks about a real-life gay professor from Aligarh University who was caught in a compromising position during a sting operation.
“As always, we are afraid to call a homosexual what he is. But I think it extends to any discussion on sexuality, gay or straight,” says Apurva sadly.
He was also shocked that even the heterosexual scenes of intimacy in the movie had to be cut. “The regulatory body insisted we edit out the kissing scene between the heterosexual couple too. We had no choice but to strip the film of its edge.”
The writer sees a lot of hypocrisy when portrayal of anything sexual is concerned. “It’s sad; we as a society would rather talk about sex in double entendres and item songs, but uttering the word ‘sex’ is considered blasphemy. Imagine how confused our kids will grow up to be. I think this feat extends to any discussion on sexuality-gay or straight. Imagine a film about homosexuality has no reference to homosexuality. But they also beeped out the word sex altogether,” says Apurva sadly.
