Modern Love Mumbai: Baai (Hindi)

This story is actually one of the six love story in the anthology series Modern Love Mumbai recently released on Amazon Prime. In what feels like a very romantic and poetic setting, this almost 45 minute long film  explores the challenges of coming out in a seemingly-modern society that often keeps its real views on same-sex love in the closet. The title 'Baai' is a Urdu word often used to refer to your grandmother.

Manzu is one of the scions of a conservative Muslim family. A stolen kiss with neighbor boy makes him realize he is gay and comes out to his parents who refuse to believe and understand him. The doting grandmother wants to see him get married but she doesn't know about him and he also doesn't wanna risk her health by coming out to her. The granny is now sick and the family has got together to pay their respects. This is when through flashback we know that Manzu moved to Goa in his passion for music, where he meets a chef Rajveer and before you lock love kicks in. Manzu is not sure because this is really the first time for him, but Rajveer's love make him accept who he is and be true to himself. Eventually the mother comes around too. In the film'a final minutes, the granny makes Manzu tell her the truth because eventually its not gender but the person whose love matters.

There are so many nice things about this film that I don't even know where to begin. Agreed that the film is not trying to be different or make a statement here. The idea is to show the beautiful gaze and chemistry of love keeping your gender biases aside and this is where the film is a huge winner. The director beautifully blends religion, communal riots, family concerns and objections, conservative attitude vs giving into your feelings and the pain that an individual is going through because of his loving family not accepting who they are. Everything feels like a poetry in motion. Probably because of some amazing music and some mouth watering food scenes. Some of my favorite scenes are when Manzu's sister stands up against her parents siding her brother that she has the right to live as he is and with whoever he wants, the wedding scene when the mother finally comes around and of course the final scene with granny. The scene instantly reminded me of the scene from my favorite film 'Big Eden' where our man is scared to come out to his grandfather and their final moments revery touching.  The two lead actors have done an amazing job portraying the love and pain. It's impossible to believe that one of them is straight and married and the other is a real life chef acting for the first time. The cheerfulness and love is pretty much in the air and their passionate bonding over music and food is truly infectious. The scene where they both share their journey of coming out and we se two very different reactions is something I can totally relate to. Surely, there are obvious reasons that I will personally connect with this film a lot more than many of you would, but regardless this is such a meaningful story to tell for Indian context and people. I can't wait for Indian film makers tel more and more beautiful stories of and for the LGBTQ+ community. (8/10)