Bollywood goes GAY with latest blockbuster

In a culture where kissing on the big screen is considered a taboo, a new movie depicting a gay romance is about to spice Bollywood up.

The promotional poster for ‘Dunno Y … Na Jaane Kyun’ features two shirtless men in a sensual embrace and is being touted as India’s answer to Brokeback Mountain.

Few details have emerged about the script and, curiously, the dialogue is in English - a tactic perhaps to satisfy strict Indian censorship.

The Times Of India reports that well know director Anil Sharma’s brother Kapil Sharma, a fledgling actor who plays the lead, was ‘warned’ against taking on the role, accepting the offer after other stars declined.

“I feel today’s audience is mature enough, and they don’t want to see typical run-of-the-mill kind of films. Look, at Hollywood, Hasn’t Tom Hanks played a gay character? An actor should be open to playing any character conventional or unconventional.

“The only thing I was particular about, was that this character should not come across as a caricature or just as an object of mockery. I am truly happy with what I have chosen.” said the young actor.

Sharma plays a wannabe model from a small town who begins a relationship with another man as a shortcut to success. His character ‘Aryan’ works both as a gigolo and performs at private parties for rich gay socialites - something that is ‘quite common’ among aspiring models in Mumbai according to the actor.

Bollywood has rarely depicted homosexuality even though a thriving gay culture exists in the country.

“I took inputs from my gay friends and also went to gay parties in a group just to get the feel of their lifestyle. I even got hit on by a gay,” smiles Sharma.

Homosexuality was decriminalized in India only last year however convictions were extremely rare with no convictions at all in the last 20 years.

There is currently no legal recognition of same-sex couples under Indian law.

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Links for this story:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Kapil-Sharma-gay-act/articleshow/5142286.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Indias-answer-to-Brokeback-Mountain/articleshow/5416589.cms

Glee ups the Gay-factor for season 2

Hot jocks, show-tune renditions of Madonna numbers and a guest appearance by Olivia Newton John – performing ‘Physical’ – can Glee get any gayer?

Oh yes it can!

Producers of the hit American musical comedy drama (try saying that after a couple of Singapore Slings!) are on a mission to out-gay gay staples Ugly Betty & American Housewives for season two.

Glama-gay misfit Kurt (Chris Colfer) gets a starring role…and a boyfriend.

Glee creator, Ryan Murphy told Entertainment Weekly: "We just announced we're doing a nationwide search for the season two cast, and [a love interest for Kurt is] one of the three roles that we're adding. And we're going to make them a power couple.

"We're not going to do the whole hiding in the shadows thing. We're going to make them popular, and out and proud and glamorous. Like prom king and king. We're doing the opposite of what's been done."

The Fox series which revolves around a group of all-singing high-kicking high school geeks (and a rather fabulous mash up of R&B and modern rock classics) is currently being showered with awards in the US.

Murphy also revealed that Grease star Olivia Newton John has agreed to duet her 80’s smash ‘Physical’ with ball-busting cheerleader coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) before the current season ends. A show entirely devoted to Madonna numbers has also been filmed.

Currently on a mid-season break the concluding episodes of Glee series one commence on April 13th in the US.

Meanwhile, fans of the show are currently being entertained with the numerous Glee tribute videos clogging up the internet – fans reinterpreting the show’s fabulous dance routines.

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Chinese authorities shut down gay pageant

Considering it was only declassified as a mental disorder there in 2001, China’s attitude towards homosexuality now seems to be positively skyrocketing.

Last year the first government backed gay bar opened in Kunming, in south-western Yunnan, and Shanghai held the first ever national gay pride celebration. Last week China Daily featured the ‘wedding’ of a male gay couple – in a positive light – on its front page.

This may seem meager progress but homosexuality was only decriminalized in China in 1997 – finally allowing its gay population to evolve.

Within the last decade an emerging gay community has set up its own support groups, websites and venues in most of the major cities.

However, world-wide media attention drawn by the country’s first ever Mr. Gay China pageant last Friday evening in Beijing proved a step too far for the authorities.

Just as the contestants were preparing backstage at the Lan Club eight police officers entered the venue and closed the competition down.

The event had garnered interest from the world media including London’s Guardian and The New York Times.

Gayographic, the PR company organising the event hoped that the pageant would contribute to gay visibility and the development of China’s gay community.

Although disappointed the organizers weren’t entirely surprised. Ben Zhang, head of the team managing the contest, said he knew the risks involved in holding such an event without official permission. He also believes that had he requested permission it would certainly have been refused.

Ryan Dutcher, an American and also one of the planners told The New York Times “We’re disappointed, to say the least.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a huge step backwards for the gay community,” he said, “but I guess it’s not a step forward, either.”

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Related Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/world/asia/16beijing.html

Sherlock Holmes: Gay? Not on your Nelly!!

The copyright holder of Sherlock Holmes has indicated she would veto a sequel to the smash hit movie should the main characters be played gay.

The film, currently the No.2 Box office draw in the UK and US behind Avatar, stars Robert Downey Jr as Holmes and Jude Law as his loyal side-kick Dr. Watson.

In interviews Downey Jr has been happy to fuel speculation that the two main characters were more than just crime-cracking cohorts and that homoerotic undertones in the movie were intentionally played up…

When prompted by chat show host David Letterman on whether he thought Holmes and Watson were lovers Downey Jr responded: "….let the audience decide if he (Holmes) just happens to be a very butch homosexual….Which there are many…And I'm proud to know certain of them."

Downey went on to quip that Watsons fiancé may have been a ‘beard’ – a gay slang term describing a woman who poses as a romantic ‘cover’ to conceal sexual orientation.

Andrea Plunket, who currently holds the copyright to Sherlock Holmes, isn’t amused at the suggestion that Holmes and Watson were perhaps solving more than just mysteries…

She told Total Film: “I hope this is just an example of Mr Downey's black sense of humour. It would be drastic, but I would withdraw permission for more films to be made if they feel that is a theme they wish to bring out in the future.
"I am not hostile to homosexuals, but I am to anyone who is not true to the spirit of the books.”
Grossing well over $100 million in its first month of release Sherlock Holmes is the second hit film in a row for director and Madonna-ex Guy Richie.

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