UNVEILING THE UNSEEN: QUEER REPRESENTATION IN INDIAN CINEMA AND THE ROAD YET TO BE EXPLORED

Sheen Thankalayam; Subin Thomas; Bensha C Shaji; Jincy S S; Neenu Anna Ninan

doi:10.29121/shodhkosh.v7.i2s.2026.7184

Authors

Sheen Thankalayam Department of Media Studies, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore - 560029, India
Subin Thomas School of Law, Alliance University, Bangalore - 560076, India
Bensha C Shaji School of Law, VIT AP University, Amaravati, India
Jincy S S Department of English, Chikkanna Government Arts College, Tiruppur, India
Neenu Anna Ninan School of Legal Studies, Reva University, Bengaluru, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v7.i2s.2026.7184

Keywords:

Queer Representation, Indian Cinema, LGBTQIA , Intersectionality, Film Studies

Abstract [English]

There exists a disproportion in the Indian film industry in the delegation and the representation of queer community. The inclusion of queer subjects often fluctuates between invisibility, stereotypes, authentic portrayal and its acceptance. Investigations and explorations of the LGBTQ+ narratives in a refined and nuanced way became more visible in the Indiasn cinemas after the amendment of Section 377 in 2018. This study aims to observe and understand the horizons and boundaries of queer representation in the Indian film industry by examining the historical and contemporary global trends, significant movies, and related scholarly productions and literary narratives. A huge gap is prevailing between the global queer film sector and the Indian queer film sector in the detailing of queer subjects on the backdrop of social, political, economic and familial resistance. This review article evidences that the developments in both mainstream and regional industries still do not gain freedom from the restrictions of class, caste, gender binaries, and censorship. This apparently calls for the need for an intersectional and authentic detailing of queer narratives. The difference in the reception of queer subjects on various geographical and generational bases is yet another topic for discussion. The article stands for politically correct, culturally rooted, socially balanced queer portrayals in the Indian film industry.

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