Director: Ramesh Sippy
Duration: 00:02:41; Aspect Ratio: 1.222:1; Hue: 6.772; Saturation: 0.127; Lightness: 0.235; Volume: 0.222; Cuts per Minute: 7.047; Words per Minute: 129.080
Summary: A clip from Sholay (1975) directed by Ramesh Sippy starring Amitabh Bacchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bacchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan and others.
Sholay is one of the box office record breaking films of Hindi cinema. As pointed out by Shohini Ghosh, it is in these films that are seemingly mainstream, that often queer desires often find a resonance (as in Hum aapke hain kaun). Sholay revolves around the friendship of two men with each other -Jai and Veeru, the women they romance and the revenge drama they enact against the evil henchman Gabbar.
Jai and Veeru's friendship is the heart of the film, and here what are usually romantic devices in Hindi cinema- songs, arguments, declarations of underlying love - are often enacted between the two men as well. In this scene Jai is allegedly setting up a marriage for Veeru with Basanti, by talking to her Mausi. However as is obvious all he does is ruin his chances of marriage.
You can also see the picturisation of the song 'Yeh dosti' from Sholay, available on Pad.ma at
http://pad.ma/LK/info
This clip is part of the Queering Bollywood database, an exhibition and demonstration of a collection of queer readings of Indian cinema. This open and collaborative database of articles, film clips, magazine stories, etc., has been compiled by Namita Malhotra, Lawrence Liang and many others at Alternative Law Forum and in Bangalore. For more, see
http://media.opencultures.net/queer/
Basanti's Mausi (Leela Mishra): In a house, a young daughter is like a stone on th eheart. Just Basanti should get married.. then I'll take a deep breath.
Jai: You are right, mausi.. there's a big heavy burden on you
Mausi: But I can't throw the burden down the well. Dont feel bad but I have to ask. what does this boy do? What is his family?
Jai: Well.. regarding his earnings. Once he is married and has the responsibilty of a family, then he will earn
Mausi: So he doesn't earn anything now
Jai: ofcourse he does. but on some days he loses
Mausi: what does he lose
Jai: well, if you gamble what to expect
Mausi: so he is a gamlber
Jai: no no.. chee chee. He's not a gambler. dont say that. he's a good boy. but once he has drunk, then who knows right from wrong. someone makes him gamble, its not his fault
Mausi: yes, yes,.. so what if he is an alcoholic and gambler. But its not his fault at all
Jai: now mausi dont' say that - you're painting him in the bad light. he's very straight forward and decent. once he gets married to Basanti all this wil go
Mausi: As if that ever happens. has anyone ever stopped drinking and gambling?
Jai: Don't misunderstand me now Mausi. Once he's married he'll stop going to that dancer's house and then he'll stop drinking.
Mausi: that was the only thing left. he also goes to a dancer's house
Jai: So whats wrong with that? Lots of people do that. Respectable persons like kings and landlord go to dancer's houses
Mausi: Fine..fine.. so tell me about his family
Jai: As soon as we find out about his family we'll let you know, Mausi.
Mausi: Well i have to say this about you. so many faults your friend has, but you have only praise for him
Jai: What to do mausi. My heart is like that
So can I say that this marriage is fixed
Mausi: What? No way.. I'm not letting Basanti marry such a boy. I'm not a step mother, I'm her real Mausi!!!
Jai: That is very strange...
Sholay
marriage proposal
queer
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