Part of my Bollywood Challenge

As I've noted before, the new millennium has brought a profound shift in priorities to Bollywood -- more genre specific films, fewer musical productions, less emphasis on Indian history and more on current social issues, and overseas settings involving the adventures of NRIs (Non-Resident Indians). Here's a perfect example of the sea change, a rom-com set almost exclusively in Florida, with only indoor locations shot in Mumbai and just two of seven original songs lip-synched by the actual characters. What's more, the film is credited with being the first mainstream Indian film with a gay element.

As director Tarun Mansukhani's debut film, it has been said that he "decided to use sexuality to shed light…

Dostana is AFAIK the first time when a commercial Hindi movie dared to tackle homosexuality as its main theme. Two guys pretend to be a couple to get a flat in Miami and a lot of hilarity ensues.
I enjoyed Dostana the most the first time I watched it (I couldn't stop laughing). I still have a soft spot for it even now, but it loses quite a bit when one is anticipating the jokes.

What I will probably never stop appreciating it for though is how "full on" it is in its gay theme and in sexualizing men. You could argue it's still playing it safe as the two main characters are only pretending to be gay, but they…

*disclaimer, this is my first Bollywood film and I cannot even begin to fully understand the cultural context in which you can critique its products. Bear with me in my naivete*
When you watch something fun but problematic, you separate your two minds and try and fixate on the cultural context and the simplistic joy. Dostana gives a lighthearted albeit highly conservative fusion of laughs for homosexuality and the differences between “modern” America and traditional Indian culture. The characters in it are light, comical and digestible, even when being manipulative. The musical numbers are often fun, irreverent and the people are beautiful.

 Nothing in this film stays long on your plate long enough to fully consider what you’re eating, just…