Vilom

By: Marty

We buy some movies because they make us feel good. We buy some movies because they're just so well made we have to have a copy. Vilom is a movie that should be in the files of every serious collector of gay cinema. At times the film is very unpleasant to watch. But watch we must because the movie tells the history of gay people in a repressed society. Beautifully filmed and well acted.

By: Amos Lassen

"VILOM"
Relationships
Amos Lassen
Director Sunder Pal's "Vilom" is a story of risk-taking, creativity, rebellion and survival as told through this dramatic film about gender blending and gay, straight relationships. Set in Chandigarh, India, a country of many religions, castes, creeds, colors, and languages, the LGBTQ community there has a difficult time surviving. Indian society is very complex and we hear little about LGBTQ people there. Like all of us, they want to be accepted as an integral part of society but the Indian constitution and law, religion and people have yet to embrace them. We meet them between 2009 and 2013 and some real events from this period are used to enhance the fictional story and for dramatization purpose.
Vilom works as a YouTuber and is trying to find social media attention by trying new concepts every day. He is lonely, isolated and confused about his sexuality, trying to understand what works for him.
Amay a young dynamic boy comes to this city from a village in Punjab. He works as a hairdresser in a salon. He is a well educated gentleman gay guy who falls in love with Vilom. They face criticism and abuse, yet current government policies help them to gain some confidence and they move in together.
Nivi is a young beautiful girl who struggles in her acting career. She meets Vilom during his new social experimental video project and falls for him. Of course, this creates problems between Vilom and Amay and she leaves him when she realizes Vilom is in a relationship with a gay man.
Changes in government policies make things difficult for the three of them in the city and they to face terrible police harassment. The social structure and government policies do not give any justice to this and they have to live with that. The social burden and responsibilities towards family and society them to live apart. The story focuses on shame, desire, and love.
While the trio lived together, they dealt with confusion and Vilom begins examining his sexual and romantic wants and needs. At the same time, societal pressures and prejudices begin to build around them and their home this giving us a look at risk-taking, creativity, rebellion and survival.