Last month, New York-based Malayalam filmmaker Jayan Cherian found himself exchanging heated barbs with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) through statements to the press and on social media. The CBFC had refused to certify his film, 'Ka Bodyscapes' which talks about the life of a gay painter, a rural kabaddi player and their activist friend — for the film's "glorification of gay and homosexual relationship". "The film is officially banned in India. CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani who claims to be the moral guardian of Indian values refused to certify it," says Cherian. The movie was also prevented from being screened at government-funded Indian film festivals.
"No young filmmaker can afford to take this kind of a risk in India," says Cherian who hails from an industry that started toying with the theme of homosexuality as early as 1978 with 'Randu Penkuttikal' that explored the theme of lesbianism.

Read more at timesofindia.indiatimes.com