Gay-themed Malayalam shortfilm Velipadu going fests, winning accolades

Kochi: For gay rights activist Jijo Kuriakose, art has always been a medium of self-expression, perhaps the most powerful means of establishing his own and his community’s identity. His latest work, a Malayalam short film titled Velipadu (The Revelation), in that sense, is a key addition to his volume of works, including write-ups, photographs and music that records the Malayali LGBTQI experience through the gay gaze. 

The film, provokingly set in a religious backdrop, has been going places and winning accolades, with the latest being the Bengaluru International Film Festival, slated for August 7-17. 'Velipadu' will be screened in the Queer Qorner segment of BISFF, an Oscars Academy accredited festival. 

Set mostly in a traditional Kerala Christian family and a seminary, the film tries to capture the heaviness of the emotions of Johnny, a deacon caught in a complex identity crisis involving family, religion, friendship and an impending marriage. The film explores the theology student’s amorous relationship with a male friend and his dilemma as to how to deal with it. Melancholy is the tone of the movie and the emotions of the characters – predominantly passion and confusion -- are captured in all intensity. 

On the theme and the setting of 'Velipadu', Jijo, who has written and directed the film, said it was a conscious attempt and a response to what he termed the historic discrimination Christianity has practised against homosexual people. He said though he has become an atheist, his cultural background of being raised in a Christian family and associated with the church has contributed much to the narrative. 

Since July 2024, the Malayalam short has been screened in 33 international film festivals, including in countries such as the USA, Canada, Mexico, the UK and the Netherlands. The awards it won include Best Direction and Best Actor-Special Mention at the 7th Anna Bhau Sathe Film Festival, National Institute of Film Archives, Pune; Best Direction, LGBTIQ Toronto and LA Film Festival; Best Screenplay and Cinematography, Pupila International Film Festival, Brazil; 

Best LGBTQ Short Film, Golden Lion Film Festival, Chennai; Best Gay themed film, 5th Colors of Love Film Festival, Mumbai; and Honourable Mention (Short Film Section), 10th Ridgway Independent Film Festival, Colorado, USA.

The film was produced by Gouldian Finches Productions. Thaai Prasaath is the director of photography and Sarun Surendran is the editor. Adarsh S Nath has composed music for the film.