“Sexuality Is A Very Private Matter” : Gul Panag Speaks

Gul Panag and her film Straight is the hot topic right now. Here’s what Gul has to say :

Clear this air about Straight being a film about homosexuality.
Straight is a film about a homophobic guy. Pinu Patel is homophobic just like the bulk of the Indian population. In this society you are a conformist and sexuality is one small part of it. To conform would be to be heterosexual and the non conformists are to be the homosexual. It’s all a matter of choice. We’ve always looked down upon these whether it’s in sexuality, thought or any opinion. By and large, we are a homophobic society. Pinu suddenly figures that there is a possibility that he could just be a gay. Now imagine the trauma of Pinu, a man who hates people who are gays.

Gul Panag, Do you think homosexuality should be legalized ?
 On whether homosexuality should be legalised or not, I’ve always maintained that sexuality is a very private matter. Neither a society nor a state has any right to interfere in this matter. They shouldn’t even comment on a matter like this, I believe. Tomorrow we’ll have a state saying that on Monday we should wear pink underwear, on Tuesday you wear a green one. They will tell us what way to brush our teeth too. All this is too personal. You shouldn’t judge anybody on sexual orientation. I hope I’ve answered your question.

What makes Straight a tedhi medhi love story ?
It’s tedhi because it’s a typical love story where a boy meets girl, they have some trouble and things work out. A tedhi medhi love story because it’s not according to plan in more ways than at least five (laughs) or at least three.  There is this guy who hopes he is a regular guy who is pushing forties. He thinks that one day will come when he finds his match – a girl, and he almost finds her.

He lives in a quintessential hope that all of us live in. His love life is one set of messy things after the other, from one tedha to doosra tedha to teesra tedha. Full News