TLI Staff
New Delhi: National Award winning director Onir of I Am and My Brother Nikhil fame is all set to adapt LGBT author and influencer Raga Olga D’silva’s ‘coming out’ story for big screen.
Raga shot to fame with her first book Untold Lies, a unique concept of stories that became poems (she called them storyoems) which subtly touched upon aspects of her life, including her romance with a same sex partner.
“This will be a gift to the audience of an inspiring beautiful love story across cultures, uninhabited in celebrating their identity and the right to love. For me Raga’s story was attractive for many reasons, but primarily it made me smile at the end of it, because love wins and I know many lesbians have been always telling me that I should do a lesbian story. I never found the right story till I met Raga, a story that was so refreshing and goes far beyond just an LGBTQ film,” said Onir.
Knowing fully well, how unique the story is and how hard it is for women to come out, especially in India due to social conditioning, particularly if they have been married with children, Onir intends to bring to the viewers a story and the harsh reality of the immense courage and strength it takes to reveal the truth. It would also centre around how coming out could mean leaving the family up for abuse, judgment, ridicule and all the prejudices that come with something considered unconventional, according to a press statement.
Speaking about the adaptation, Raga Olga D’silva said, “When Onir approached me for the story, I was hesitant at first, as this would mean that I had to expose my vulnerabilities to a wider audience. However, I soon realized that stories are how we will change the narratives and there was no one better than Onir to handle such a subject with the sensitivity, love and respect it deserved. I am totally touched that Onir found me and my story, and will take it to the world.”
Urmi Juvekar, screenplay and dialogue writer of I AM, Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye, Shanghai and the recent Netflix hit, Leila has been roped in to write the screenplay and the dialogues for this film.
Speaking about her association, Urmi J commented: “I loved the story for its energy, humour and heart-warming characters. She makes you believe that love and joy exist in the world.”
The film is produced by ANTICLOCK FILMS known for movies like My Brother Nikhil.