My Brother… Nikhil

Synopsis:

Nikhil, a bright young swimmer, finds his life falling apart after getting diagnosed with HIV. In his troubled times, he finds the support of his sister, Anamika, and his boyfriend, Nigel.

Quick Thoughts:

Wow – what a powerful story! “My Brother… Nikhil” beautifully recounts the struggles of the first man to test positive in Goa, India. This queer Bollywood film is actually a “fictionalised” semi-autobiographical film about a real patient and AIDS activist: Dominic d’Souza. It is also the first mainstream Indian film to deal with homosexuality – despite being released rather recently, in 2005. It is a difficult and emotional film to watch, but told in a way that works quite well. It’s more a recollection of memories by Nikhil’s family afterwards. And some of the ostracism Nikhil has to endure,… it leaves quite an impression. And the entire cast is phenomenal in bringing this story to life. It truly is a must-watch queer film!