The document provides an analysis of the representation of gay and lesbian characters in the 2022 Hindi film 'Badhai Do'. It discusses queer theory, queer cinema, semiotics, popular culture, and provides a plot summary and analysis of the film. The film explores the complexities of societal acceptance and homophobia through the story of two queer characters who enter a lavender marriage. The director handles the sensitive subject maturely without trivializing the struggles of LGBTQ people. Overall, the film starts an important conversation about acceptance while depicting the suffocation of living in a homophobic society.

1. A semiotic investigation of
representation of Gay and
Lesbian in ‘Badhai Do’
Ms. Nidhi Jethava
Research Scholar
Department of English MK Bhavnagar University.

2. Table of Content
1. What is Queer theory ?
2. What is queer cinema ?
3. What does mean by Semiotics here ?
4. What is Popular Culture ?
5. About ‘ Badhai Do
6. Analysis
7. Conclusion
8. Work Cited

3. What is Queer theory ?
Queer theory is often used to designate the combined area of gay and lesbian
studies, together with the theoretical and critical writings about all modes of
variance—such as cross-dressing, bisexuality, and transsexuality— from society’s
normative model of sexual identity, orientation, and activities. The term “queer”
was originally derogatory, used to stigmatize male and female same-sex love as
deviant and unnatural; since the early 1990s, however, it has been adopted by
gays and lesbians themselves as a noninvidious term to identify a way of life and
an area for scholarly inquiry. (Abrams, M.H., and Geoffrey Harpham.)

4. What is queer cinema ?
New Queer Cinema is the name given to a wave of queer films that gained critical
acclaim on the festival circuit in the early 1990s. Coined, and largely chronicled,
by film theorist B. Ruby Rich, New Queer Cinema, or NQC as represented the
exciting prospect that lesbian and gay images and filmmakers had turned a
corner. (Aaron, Michele, editor. New Queer Cinema: A Critical Reader.)

5. What does mean by Semiotics here ?
● Umberto Eco’s definition of Signification makes space to examine the
significance of the “queer” subject, Umberto Eco empathetically mentions
that convention is the necessary condition for signification.

6. What is Popular Culture ?
Roland Barthes' perspective on popular culture can be found in his writings, particularly in his book
titled "Mythologies," published in 1972. In this book, Barthes analyzes a wide range of cultural
phenomena, including advertisements, consumer products, and popular media, to explore how
they function as signs and symbols that convey deeper cultural meanings and ideologies.
Barthes' view of popular culture is often characterized by his examination of how everyday objects
and cultural practices are imbued with symbolic significance and how they contribute to the
construction and dissemination of cultural myths. He sought to uncover the hidden ideologies and
meanings within seemingly mundane aspects of popular culture.

7. About ‘ Badhai Do
● Director: Harshavardhan Kulkarni
● Initial release: 11 February 2022
● Available on : Netflix
https://www.netflix.com/title/8135
0338
● Cast: Rajkumar Rao and Bhumi
Pednekar.

8. About the story
● The plot focuses on the gay and lesbian character Shardul Thakur, a cop and
Suman Singh, a physical education teacher.
● Both get married for society and started living life together with their lover.
● Climax : Shardul’s mother got her daughter-in-law with one girl in semi-naked
sensual situation and when Shardul declare himself as Gay on front of his
family.
● This movie explored the complexities of acceptance and homophobia.
Shardul always felt fear if his identity will reveal his social respect will
distorted.

10. “The film is based on the subject of lavender marriage (where a man and a woman, who are queer, pretend to be
straight and get married to each other to avoid social/parental pressure)” - Sharma, Sampada
As Michal Arton has written in his book regarding queer cinema this movie represented queer characters. In the
initial part audionce come to know about the love story of two gays named Shardul and Kabir.
According to Ronald Barths Popular in culture cinema plays very vital role this movie is also play a significant role
for the LGBTQAI+ society and their acceptance.
Shardul has homofobia and that’s why his constant urge was to hide his gestures too and he meet his boyfriend
out of the stat as well.

12. ● Suman ancourts with Rimzim at hospital and slowly them came to know that
both started feeling for each other.
● Suman reveals her secret of marriage and her feeling for Rimzim and both
stared living together at police quarters.
● “Director Harshvardhan Kulkarni deals with the subject in an extremely
mature and sensitive manner, and in his attempt to sound witty or add
punchlines, at no point does he trivialise the ordeal homosexual people go
through.” (Kukreja, Monika Rawal.)

13. Conclusion
What this movie explores is the silent suffocation of being marginalised in a
society that does not accept you. Their marriage of convenience does offer them a
private space, but with a constant barrage of onlookers prying away at their lives,
it becomes more of a glasshouse wherein they constantly feel on display. Initially
content with finding a lone curtain that offers them some privacy, keeping up the
charade day in and out, despite the humorous format in which it is presented, the
ordeal eventually gets exhausting as it continues to gnaw at their freedom. (Goyal,
Mahi.)

14. In a country where decriminalising consensual gay sex took ages and where
same-sex marriages are still not legal, merely showing a happy pride parade won't
really bring about much of a change. We definitely need many more such films to
break the stigma. But yes, Badhaai Do surely starts a conversation, more so for
the families of homosexual people, which, I feel, is the most important takeaway
from this film.(Monika Rawal Kukreja)

15. Work Cited
Aaron, Michele, editor. New Queer Cinema: A Critical Reader. Edinburgh University Press,
2004.
Abrams, M.H., and Geoffrey Harpham. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Cengage Learning,
2012.
Barthes, Roland. Mythologies. Edited by Annette Lavers, translated by Annette Lavers, Hill
and Wang, 1972. Accessed 6 August 2023.
Eco, Umberto. A Theory of Semiotics. Indiana University Press, 1976.

16. Goyal, Mahi. “Badhaai Do: The Suffocation Of Being Queer In A Homophobic Society.” Feminism in India, 26 July 2022,
https://feminisminindia.com/2022/07/26/badhaai-do-the-suffocation-of-being-queer-in-a-homophobic-society/.
Accessed 6 August 2023.
Kukreja, Monika Rawal. “Badhaai Do review: Rajkummar, Bhumi's family entertainer is bold but could have been braver.”
Hindustan Times, 11 February 2022, https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/badhaai-do-review-
rajkummar-rao-bhumi-pednekar-s-family-entertainer-is-bold-but-could-have-been-braver-101644544415271.html.
Accessed 6 August 2023.
Sharma, Sampada. “Badhaai Do director says they did not just want acceptance from the audience: 'We want to be allies.'”
The Indian Express, 9 February 2022, https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/badhaai-do-director-
harshvardhan-kulkarni-acceptance-from-audience-want-to-be-allies-7744832/. Accessed 6 August 2023.

17. Thank You