Dostana's sole award is probably a landmark event
Font Size <http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/dostanas-sole-award-is-probably-a-l andmark-event/411382/> -A <http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/dostanas-sole-award-is-probably-a-l andmark-event/411382/> +A Georgina Maddox Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham get Best Couple at the Nokia 15th Annual Star Screen Awards. Gay Mumbai sees it as a sign It was a first in the history of Indian cinema. A film featuring two men as a gay couple (albeit fake) bagged the Nokia 15th Annual Star Star Screen Award as the Best Couple. John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan won the golden statuette from under the noses of Aamir Khan and Asin, Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif and Akshay Kumar and Kaif and Salman Khan. Interestingly, the award was handed out by the other halves of the two men-actors Rai and Bipasha Basu, who giggled like school girls over their men being called a 'couple', insisting they "don't mind at all". "It's an unexpected award to get, and feels a bit strange. I am glad to be here and I do miss Abhishek, especially his chest hair," joked Abraham, stroking Khan's shaved chest, inciting hoots of laughter. Amidst ribald jokes made by hosts Sajid Khan and Shreyas Talpade, much of the evening was painted pink. The two hosts vied for Abraham's attention, Khan dressed in his yellow trunks for a bit, and the hosts even made a few presentations dressed in drag. And yes, it could've been cheesy but it actually was a lot of fun. Perhaps it's light hearted banter but makes one wonder, is this the tip of the iceberg? Are things really changing in Bollywood? "It is an achievement that a film like Dostana is redefining what couple-hood means," says Malini Dabbas who works in the non-profit sector on issues of health, gender and sexuality. Vikram of Gay Bombay, a self funded organisation, says Dostana is an exception but not the rule, adding, "One will always have to deal with stereotypes. It's the spirit in which Dostana was done that is inspiring. Not only did it take up the subject but that it did it so well. I do not expect Bollywood to a Brokeback Mountain but this comedy not malicious. "Bollywood has to go to catch up with the prevailing discourses on alternate sexuality, however, they've made a good start with Fire, and now Dostana," says activist Lesley Esteves, who also believes even though the film invited people to poke fun at stereotypes of gay men, it managed to do so without offending many gay people. "I'm thrilled that Abhishek and John won the best couple, and the style with which the award was bestowed on them was even more exciting. I would love to see two women bag the award someday soon." One cannot assume applause at an award function translates into a gay revolution-yet a small step in a homophobic society. Email: <mailto:modera...@gaybombay.in> modera...@gaybombay.in Web Sites: <http://www.gaybombay.in> www.gaybombay.in <http://www.gaybombay.info> www.gaybombay.info <http://www.gayindia.org> www.gayindia.org E Groups: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay/> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay/ <http://groups.google.com/group/Gaybombay> http://groups.google.com/group/Gaybombay
