Quiet Reckoning: Queer voices find expression in a new documentary

When filmmaker Simon V Kurian, based in Australia, began researching the LGBTQIA+ community in the aftermath of the repealing of Section 377(A colonial-era law that categorised gay sex as an “unnatural offence”), Sunil Menon and his organisation, Sahodaran, were among the first names that surfaced online.

Based in Chennai, Sahodaran is a community-based organisation run by and for gender and sexual minorities, working to improve their lives. An initial conversation between Simon and Sunil sparked what the filmmaker describes as an instant connection, eventually inspiring him to make a documentary about Sunil, Sahodaran, and the community A Quiet Reckoning.

“We started in 2019, but then COVID-19 happened. The project was put on hold for two years. When we picked it up again in 2022, it worked in our favour. The times had changed, and many stories had evolved. That gave us a different perspective on the people and their experiences,” says Simon.

Founded in 1996, Sahodaran was established at a time when the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community received little recognition. “I was initially skeptical of the idea because I wasn’t comfortable on camera. But Simon reassured me and made me feel comfortable,” says Sunil, adding that the documentary captures much of the work the organisation has done over the past 30 years.

The documentary, which is 1 hour and 25 minutes long, follows the stories of seven members of the LGBTQIA+ community -- Sunil Menon, Kriti, Kalaimamani Sudha, Sundar, Jaya, Sabitha and Heena -- associated with Sahodaran. It was filmed in four languages — English, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.

The idea behind the documentary, Simon says, is simple. It is to show that people from the community is just like everyone else. He wants to highlight the everyday realities of his subjects , while bringing out the struggles they face because of discrimination.

“The film is meant for audiences who may not have much understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues, including those who have preconceived notions about the community. Through Sunil’s story and the other characters, I want people to understand and accept them as part of society. They are not harming anyone; they are simply living their lives,” he adds. 

Addressing a major gap in the media’s coverage of LGBTQIA+ issues, Simon discusses how conversations surrounding the community are often not considered part of the mainstream conversation unless something significant happens. 

“People are struggling to survive, and those who are privileged may not face the same difficulties because they have the resources to manage. The media could play a much bigger role in bringing these experiences to light,” he says.

He also says commercial filmmakers could be more mindful about representation by casting LGBTQIA+ characters, bringing greater depth to the roles rather than having actors imitate their lives.

Documentaries, he says, have an important role to play in exploring real issues through the people who experience them. “I don’t use my own voice in my films. I want the people in them to tell their stories in their own voices,” he says.

Explaining how trust is an important part of documentary production, he says, Sunil trusting him early on made filming easier. “Initially, people are naturally suspicious. They wonder whether their stories will be told the way they want them to be told, or whether they will be commercialised or sensationalised. I wanted them to know that I would tell their stories honestly and respectfully,” he says, adding that the first screening would take place in Chennai because it is where his stories are situated. “I wanted the people who had shared their lives with us to be there and watch it first. It is their story, and it was important to me that they had that opportunity.”

Hoping the film would make a difference, Simon says that he hopes the audience would connect emotionally with the film and leave with a different perspective.