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Key Points

India's pioneering queer film 'Badnaam Basti' will headline the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne's Pride Night. The 1971 classic, alongside Onir's 'We Are Faheem & Karun,' celebrates LGBTQIA+ storytelling. IFFM director Mitu Bhowmick emphasizes cinema's role in fostering inclusive conversations. The festival will showcase 75 films exploring diverse themes of identity and representation.

Key Points: India's First LGBTQ Film Badnaam Basti to Screen at IFFM 2025

  • 'Badnaam Basti' is India's first LGBTQ-themed film from 1971
  • Festival to showcase 75 films on gender and identity
  • IFFM Pride Night reclaims space for queer narratives
  • Onir's 'We Are Faheem & Karun' also featured
2 min read

India's first LGBTQ film 'Badnaam Basti' to screen at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025

Historic queer film 'Badnaam Basti' and Onir's 'We Are Faheem & Karun' to headline IFFM Pride Night, celebrating LGBTQIA+ narratives.

"Cinema has the power to connect and create conversations. – Mitu Bhowmick, IFFM Director"

Mumbai, July 22

India's first-ever LGBTQ film, 'Badnaam Basti' will open at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM).

The organisers confirmed the news on Tuesday, stating that the screening will take place during the IFFM Pride Celebratory Night on August 22. The event aims to offer a "powerful tribute" to queer cinema and queer South Asian identity in Australia.

Originally released in 1971, Prem Kapoor's 'Badnaam Basti' is dubbed as India's first queer-themed film, also a "lardmark" in LGBTQIA+ cinema.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMZaWgOtL8q/

It focuses on the story of a bus driver and a cleaner, subtly redefining queer representation at the time.

The festival organisers also confirmed the screening of filmmaker Onir's 'We Are Faheem & Karun"--another "tender queer love story.

Navigating through a moving portrait of identity, friendship, and love, the film speaks to today's youth and breaks barriers with heart and honesty, the organisers added.

Speaking about the same, IFFM director Mitu Bhowmick said, "At IFFM, we believe cinema has the power to connect and create conversations. It is our responsibility to reflect on the world we live in, with all its beautiful diversity."

Reflecting on the Pride Night, she emphasised that it will not just celebrate queer identity but also reclaim the space that had been long denied to LGBTQIA+ narratives in Indian cinema. Bhowmick said that films like 'Badnaam Basti' and 'We Are Faheem & Karun' will honour the past and embrace a future of inclusive storytelling, as per the press release.

The IFFM 2025 marks 16 years of the largest Indian film festival held outside the country.

Officially backed by the Government of Victoria, Australia, the festival will screen nearly 75 films, spanning across themes of gender, race, sexuality, disability, and women's representation.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While I appreciate the artistic value, I hope this doesn't become another tool for Western countries to portray India as backward. We have our own pace of social change that respects our cultural values.
A
Ananya R
As someone from the LGBTQ community, this gives me so much hope! Representation matters so much. The fact that a 1971 film is being celebrated now shows how far we've come. More power to IFFM for creating this space!
V
Vikram M
Interesting choice. I wonder why it took 50+ years for this film to get recognition? Our film industry has always been shy about such topics. Maybe now with OTT platforms, we'll see more honest storytelling.
K
Kavya N
The bus driver and cleaner love story sounds so simple yet powerful! ❤️ Our working class rarely gets representation in mainstream cinema, let alone queer working class stories. This is revolutionary in so many ways.
S
Siddharth J
Respectfully, I think the festival organizers should focus more on mainstream Indian cinema rather than niche themes. While important, these films don't represent the majority of Indian audiences or our cultural ethos.
M
Meera T
So wonderful to see Onir's work being featured too! His films have consistently

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