Mast Kalander (1991, India)

A long film with a complicated romantic plot, this predates the rise of Bollywood and suffers from poor colour and film quality and bad acting and dialogue.

The film is notable because it is usually quoted as being the first Indian film to contain on openly gay character, Pinku (although the 1983 film Holi might claim that honour).

Pinku's character is often quoted by Indian sources as being a transvestite, but this is a case of the word having a slightly different meaning; Pinku is a flamboyant and colourfully camp gay man, but not a crossdresser.

The title means "Intoxicated".

HF July 2007

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