With 377 AbNormal nominated for Best Web Film at the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist Web Awards, director Faruk Kabir on his extensive research for LGBTQ movie.
A still from 377 AbNormal
Immediately after the landmark Supreme Court judgment in 2018 that decriminalised homosexuality, writer-director-producer Faruk Kabir began researching for his web film, 377 AbNormal. Inspired by true events, the offering — which has been nominated for Best Web Film in the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist Web Awards — narrates the journey of the petitioners who challenged Section 377.
"I invested three months into the research. I read the 400-page Supreme Court judgment," says the director, who travelled across cities to meet the subjects of his story. "I had to secure their permission [to tell their story]. It was a trust-building exercise. It was an emotional journey for them as it [the then-criminalisation of Section 377] had deeply affected them and their families."
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As he told the story of his protagonists fighting for their rights, Kabir says it was imperative to approach the Maanvi Gagroo, Tanvi Azmi and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub starrer with sensitivity. "Gay people have been [depicted] in a particular way in films, they end up being caricatures. It was a huge responsibility to [set that] right. During the shooting, Zeeshan asked me how he should approach his character. I told him to simply play a man in love in a genteel kind of way."
More about 377 AbNormal
- Faruk Kabir met Lucknow-based LGBTQ activist Arif Jafar for story inputs.
- While delivering the SC verdict, Justice Dipak Misra had quoted Goethe. Kabir has used it in the film
Cast your vote for the Hitlist Web Awards
Faruk Kabir's AbNormal 377 (Zee5) has been nominated in the Best Web Film category. The other nominees are:
Udai Singh Pawar's Upstarts (Netflix)
Bugs Bhargava's Barot House (Zee5)
Aditya Kripalani's Tottaa Pataaka Item Maal (Netflix)
Svati Chakravarty Bhatkal's Rubaru Roshni (Hotstar)
There are 14 categories that the public can vote in. Log on to www.hitlistwebawards.com to cast your vote.
You can also vote via SMS. Send HITLIST <space> category name <space> your choice (a/b/c/d as on the website) to 57575.
Voting lines close on March 8.
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