Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Indian army blocks award-winning director's film on gay soldier

Indian army blocks award-winning director's film on gay soldier

INDIAN filmmaker Onir wanted to direct a movie inspired by a gay army major who resigned and came out in a blaze of publicity -- but despite the country's democratic status the military stopped it being made.

Prime minister Narendra Modi's Hindu-nationalist government has been repeatedly accused of ramping up censorship in a systematic attack on dissent -- including clampdowns on human rights activists, journalists and NGOs -- since coming to power eight years ago.


In 2020 it issued an order advising filmmakers to seek prior clearance for any military-themed script, a decision described by free speech campaigners as both Orwellian and unconstitutional in the world's largest democracy.

Onir, who uses only one name, is gay himself and was among the first major Bollywood figures to openly acknowledge his sexuality.

suresh Major J Suresh (Photo: Instagram)

He is known for his movies about the lives of socially marginalised groups, and his creative eye was caught by the case of Major J Suresh, who hit national headlines in 2020 after he quit the army and announced: "Out!! Proud!! Liberated!!"

"I'm gay -- and I'm very proud that I'm gay," the ex-army officer -- who had served in some of India's most turbulent regions including Kashmir -- wrote on his blog.

He later gave a ground-breaking interview on national television that went viral in the socially conservative country.

Onir's script, "We Are", narrates four stories, those of a trans woman, a lesbian, a bisexual man and a fictitious account of love between a gay officer and a Kashmiri boy.

But when he approached the defence ministry for a "no objection certificate" -- which most studios, streaming platforms and producers now insist on to ensure there are no legal or administrative hurdles -- he was rejected.

"They told me... the fact that I have portrayed the army man as gay is illegal," he said.

Homosexuality and adultery are punishable

India only decriminalised gay sex in a 2018 Supreme Court ruling, but both homosexuality and adultery remain punishable offences under the Army Act, with jail terms of up to 10 years.

At the same time, India also has a long history of post-production film censorship, and concerns over freedom of expression were raised by new social media regulations last year.

The country's junior defence minister Ajay Bhatt confirmed to parliament last week that Onir's film had been refused permission because of "the portrayal of a romantic relationship between an army soldier serving in Kashmir and a local boy which casts (the) Indian army in poor light and raises security concerns".

He insisted the pre-screening process was neither unconstitutional nor a denial of free speech, and said the government considered factors including national security, popular sentiment and the image of the armed forces to ensure the military "isn't depicted in a manner which brings disrepute".

But Mumbai-based Onir, 52, pointed out that movies, where officers fall in love with women, were never rejected.

"Why is one's sexuality being made the barometer for one's patriotism or ability to defend the nation?" he asked.

"Everyone seems to get offended over the slightest things but what about the artists' creativity or sentiments?" he added. "We don't matter."

Several of his films have addressed gay themes, including "My Brother... Nikhil", the story of Indian swimming champion Dominic D'Souza who was arrested in the 1980s after testing HIV positive.

"I Am" combined four stories examining same-sex relationships and other taboo subjects such as sperm donation and child abuse.

It was named the best Hindi film in the 2012 National Film Awards, the country's equivalent of the Oscars, but even then satellite channels declined to broadcast it.

In his own life, he said, "I have always been out. I have never had any one moment of coming out or crisis about who I am."

Some of the most popular military-themed movies and web series in India in recent years have been nationalistic, all-guns-blazing stories of heroics by soldiers, including "Uri: The Surgical Strike", inspired by a Modi-ordered 2016 operation into Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.

"It's problematic," said Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of Caravan magazine. "How can the army decide how it is depicted, seen or criticised by the people?"

"I can think of one democratic parallel where the military is allowed control over free speech: across the border, in Pakistan," he added. "But no one in this government likes that comparison."

(AFP)

More For You

Minouche Shafik

Shafik served as deputy governor for markets and banking at the Bank of England between August 2014 and February 2017.

Reuters

Starmer appoints Minouche Shafik as chief economic adviser in reshuffle

Highlights:

  • Minouche Shafik named chief economic adviser to Keir Starmer.
  • Darren Jones moves into Downing Street role; James Murray replaces him.
  • Wider reshuffle includes changes in Starmer’s private office and communications.
  • Appointment comes ahead of a budget expected to include further tax rises.

Prime minister Keir Starmer has named Minouche Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, as his chief economic adviser. The appointment comes as he looks to strengthen his team ahead of what is expected to be a difficult end to the year.

Keep ReadingShow less
modi putin

Before their formal meeting, Putin offered Modi a ride in his Aurus limousine.

X/@narendramodi

Six key takeaways from the SCO summit

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi met Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

Modi pressed for ending the Ukraine conflict at the earliest, reaffirmed India’s long-standing ties with Russia, and discussed trade and border issues with Xi.

Keep ReadingShow less
Afghanistan earthquake

Afghan volunteers and Taliban security personnel carry an earthquake victim evacuated by a military helicopter from the Nurgal district of Kunar province onn September 1, 2025.

Getty Images

Afghanistan earthquake kills more than 800, thousands injured

A MAJOR rescue operation was underway in Afghanistan on Monday after a powerful earthquake and several aftershocks destroyed homes in a remote mountainous region, killing more than 800 people, according to Taliban authorities.

The quake struck just before midnight and was felt as far as Kabul and in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ganpati festival

The Ganpati festival celebrates Ganesha as the god of new beginnings, and the god of wisdom and intelligence. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Hindu community centre in London damaged in fire after Ganapati Visarjan event

A HINDU community centre in east London caught fire on Saturday evening, causing major damage to the building. The London Fire Brigade brought the fire under control and confirmed that no injuries were reported.

The incident took place at the Shree Sorathia Prajapati Community Centre on Cleveland Road in Ilford, which had been decorated for a Ganapati Visarjan event attended by members of the Hindu community.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi ,Xi & Putin

Narendra Modi talks with Vladimir Putin and Xi jinping ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin on September 1, 2025.

Getty Images

SCO declaration slams Pahalgam attack, calls for united action on terror

Highlights:

  • SCO condemns terror attack in Pahalgam and echoes India’s stance on “double standards”.
  • Leaders call for justice for perpetrators of attacks in Pahalgam and Balochistan.
  • Declaration criticises Israeli military strikes in Gaza causing civilian casualties.
  • SCO stresses UN’s central role in global counter-terrorism strategy.

THE SHANGHAI Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Monday condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and agreed with India’s position that “double standards” in tackling terrorism are not acceptable.

Keep ReadingShow less