By E. Nina Rothe
‘Dostana' - A conversation with Tarun Mansukhani.

Can art, through its various avatars, influence the consciousness of a nation? If we are to believe some narrow-minded extremists, even the mildly suggestive painted works of a ninety-something year-old artist possess more power than the collective modesty and national pride of every Indian. Here in the US, films, books and websites were blamed after the 9/11 attacks as the 'inspiration' for such atrocities. Written works have been burned throughout the ages and poets have been ostracized - or worse - by several different societies, all because of the actions they could have inspired with their words.

Fast forward now to the Indian national pastime -- other than cricket of course! -- which is a remarkable form of cinema able to transport whole families away to a magical world. The Hindi film industry is, of course, a money-making machine but it may also have the power to change Indian society.

One momentous change recently took place in the courts - the repealing of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. What may have been an unwitting catalyst in village cinemas and urban multiplexes, was a comedy starring John Abraham, Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra. Indeed, is it a coincidence that the film 'Dostana' opened merely eight months before the historic change in the law, as well as just over half a year prior to the best attended Gay Pride marches to date in Delhi, Bombay and Bangalore? While it would be simplistic to say "Yes", it would be incredibly superficial to dismiss cinema as just entertainment and not the force it truly is.

I recently sat down with 'Dostana' writer and director Tarun Mansukhani and presented him with some of my deductions. As a working member of the film fraternity, he confidently accepted that this is quite simply the way the Indian film industry works. But he added that 'Dostana' was always meant 'to push the envelope, not tear it'. There is a reason Abhishek and John never actually touch lips in the film, a reason the question 'Are they really gay?' is left unanswered. Dharma Productions, the company behind the film, is interested in telling a good story, making a film that is entertaining and if that changes a few minds and opens a few doors in the process, it's icing on the cake. With 'Dostana', Karan Johar and Tarun Mansukhani never set out to change the world, although through the mantra now available to all when describing THAT type of a relationship 'in dono ka Dostana chal raha hain' they have certainly started a wave of change.

EGO: What did you expect the reaction would be from gay rights groups and from the conservative religious groups to 'Dostana'?
Tarun Mansukhani: From the gay community I honestly didn't expect any bad reactions and thought they would enjoy the movie. I always thought that the gay community has a better sense of humor than the straight community and from the conservative ones I knew I'd have a bit of a problem with the concept of the film but I was hoping that when they would watch it they would be entertained and all their reservations would be put to rest.

EGO: And was this the case?
TM: Yes, from the gay community I had no problem, they highly enjoyed the film and from the straight community I didn't really get much of a set back. Not even pre-release or post release for that matter, because they came knowing it would be an entertaining, light sort of film and enjoyed this for the way it was made. There was no major setback for me.

EGO: You had a special screening for members of the gay and lesbian community held in Bombay. How was that?
TM: It was a great screening to happen. They actually called us up and said they would like to have a screening of the film and so we scheduled it at one of the studios and they totally enjoyed the film, they laughed their heads off and cheered a lot when the kiss happened in the climax. When the film came out they cheered the film and were very excited that this kind of film had been made. I specifically asked if anything had offended them and they didn't find anything offensive. Even with the portions that people had spoken to me about, like when Abhishek behaves 'gay' in the Venice portion. I asked them that and they said "look it's a matter of prospective and how else would a straight guy imagine himself as gay?!" So they completely got the context of the film and that was amazing. They enjoyed it and in the process, I enjoyed it even more!

EGO: In a nation which takes its cinema so seriously, do you believe that your highly successful film could have been partly responsible for opening up the dialogue which led to the recent dismissal of parts of Section 377?
TM: Well, quite honestly, yes that was a drop that has added to the ocean. And I think the praise for all this goes to the gay community itself, for actually having taken the entire movement forward in this day and age and fought for their rights in every way possible. The media has also been a great help, brought it onto television which has the widest reach of any form of media. With 'Dostana', there was a certain percolation of that in the households. Whether you liked it, you liked the concept, you didn't understand the concept or whatever it may be, 'Dostana' kind of made into a dinner table conversation, where people laughed or spoke about it in some way or the other. For the elder generation, it gives them something to refer to, to make them understand about these relationships. It's great this kind of movement in the country and if my film has been a part of it I am just too happy for that!

EGO: How does it make you feel that 'Dostana' was recently chosen as the opening night selection for a Film Festival?
TM: Well, to be very honest, I was very surprised when they called to say they wanted it as the opening film because in my head this was a serious event and they wanted this funny comedy to open it. I was really shocked because it's not like 'Dostana' is one of your standard festival films. It's made to be your masala commercial Hindi picture. But I was also quite thrilled that my film was going to play at a festival and when they told me that they wanted it as the opening film I kind of thought they were off their rockers, quite honestly but it felt great to get such response.

EGO: These days, the Indian media is abuzz with news of 'Dostana 2'. Any inside bits to share?
TM: Right now it's more like the "Da Vinci Code" going on and everyone is trying to figure out what's going on with the sequel. Who's in it, who's playing what, are they really gay and all of that. I think I'm just going to let them continue guessing until I am ready to start revealing the secrets... But I do have a feeling there might just be a Dostana 8! As long as you guys keep enjoying it, we can keep making sequels.

About the author: E. Nina Rothe ran her own column at Chic Today for over a year and a half where she interviewed Sooni Taraporevala, Zoya Akhtar and Liz Mermin among many others. She currently writes for AVS TV. She has just been published in Tehelka Magazine and Bespoke as well. You can find her personal writing on her blog The Ajnabee Websites: (http://theajnabee.com/)

Image of Tarun Mansukhani via Mid-day