Onir, director of the brilliant Queer drama My Brother… Nikhil talks with Subhash K Jha about making the film, which is still celebrated 20 years after the release of the moving film.
Onir, 20 years down the line My Brother…Nikhil remains a milestone in queer cinema?
I only feel gratitude that with the film I became a filmmaker from dreaming to being one in the world’s largest film making industry. Humbled for having received love for the film for last two decades and having been able to create my own identity as a filmmaker.
My Brother… Nikhil also started your longstanding collaboration with actor Sanjay Suri?
My association with Sanjay started before My Brother…Nikhil. If I am filled with gratitude for twenty years of MBN, I also celebrate twenty-five years of collaboration with my friend /actor/producer Sanjay Suri.
The film still has an indelible impact?
Last month, we had a full house screening in Delhi, and many came up to me, saying how this is a film that makes them feel visible. I am in London currently, and at the BFI (British Film Institute) filmmakers interaction, the moderator said how he sobbed while watching the film even now.
Were all the actors in My Brother… Nikhil your first choices?
Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Suri, and Victor Banerjee were in my mind when I was writing. Casting Nigel was not easy. But when we approached Purab Kohli, we were overjoyed when he said yes, as I could not have asked for a better Nigel.
Was Sanjay Suri reluctant to play a gay character?
Sanjay was so overwhelmed reading the script that he decided that we should shoot it in film and approach Juhi Chawla and not shoot on video like we had originally thought.
20 Years, and queer cinema in India still seems to be in its infancy?
Yes, My Brother… Nikhil is a long way from being seen just as another beautiful story that needs to be told and seen by all not only for the queer audience.
You are one of the rare filmmakers making queer films; is it tough?
Tough but gratifying when one still manages to overcome the hurdles. When one travels across the world receiving love… when young queer South Asians come up to me and tell me how my films touch them… when parents tell me it helped them to understand their child …that’s when I feel I must be doing something right.
