‘Badnaam Basti’, India’s First LGBTQ Film, to be Screened at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

In a remarkable moment for Indian cinema and LGBTQ+ representation, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) is set to screen the restored version of Badnaam Basti, widely regarded as India’s first LGBTQ-themed film, as part of its special Pride Celebratory Night next month.

Directed by Prem Kapoor and originally released in 1971, Badnaam Basti stars Nitin Sethi, Amar Kakkad, and Nandita Thakur. The film tells the story of Sarnam, a rugged bandit-turned-driver who rescues a young woman named Bansuri from an assault. As he brings her to safety and hires a reserved temple worker, Shivraj, the narrative weaves a complex emotional triangle between the three, subtly exploring same-sex desire in a time when such themes were considered taboo in Indian cinema.

Thought to be lost forever after a limited festival run in the 1970s, the film re-emerged in a cinematic twist of fate. In 2019, a 35mm print of Badnaam Basti was accidentally discovered by two US-based curators — Simran Bhalla and Michael Metzger — while they were researching the works of another filmmaker with the surname Kapoor. Their search led them to the Arsenal Institute for Film and Video Art in Berlin, where the forgotten print was tucked away in the archives.

The film’s rediscovery and subsequent restoration drew international attention, especially after a detailed feature appeared in The Guardian in December 2024, shedding light on its cultural and cinematic importance.

IFFM’s decision to feature Badnaam Basti underscores the growing recognition of LGBTQ+ narratives in South Asian cinema and honors a work that was ahead of its time in addressing themes of sexuality, identity, and emotional intimacy.

Organizers of the festival have described the screening as a tribute not only to a lost gem of Indian cinema but also to the resilience and evolving visibility of queer stories in global film culture.