As South Asian representation in Hollywood starts to gradually (though slowly) increase, Deepa Mehta's adaptation of the novel Funny Boy written by Shyam Selvadurai can be seen as a film that widens the doors for inclusion. The story predominantly takes place in Sri Lanka and addresses the necessary topics of the time when the country was facing unrest as the tension between the two ethnic groups of Sinhalese and Tamil started to grow.
The all South-Asian cast, the location, and the story itself allow this film to stand out from many other South Asian films. Funny Boy takes the viewers on an emotional rollercoaster while delivering some powerful messages, in turn leaving the audience much to think about as well as be entertained with. This collaboration between Selvadurai, Mehta, and Ava DuVernay is undoubtedly an advancement in South Asian representation in mainstream media.
Addressing Important Issues in the South Asian Landscape
Mehta's adaptation of Selvadurai's Funny Boy confronts many topics that tend to get ignored in the South Asian context, especially homosexuality. The film's protagonist, Arjun ("Arjie") Chelvaratnam, played by Arush Nand in his youth and Brandon Ingram in adulthood, is a character who is trying to come to terms with his sexuality. What makes Funny Boy different from most other LGBTQIA+ films is that this particular picture questions how the Sri Lankan society represses homosexuality and discriminates against homosexual individuals. Arjie's exploration of his owns sexuality attracts harsh criticisms from his family. Interestingly, this reflects many coming-out stories of most homosexual individuals in South Asia.
The film goes on to address other major issues like the ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka. Aunty Radha's (played by Agam Darshi) complicated love story, and Jegan's (played by Shivantha Wijesinha) story of discrimination. These are all illustrative of some common personal issues that occurred during the 1990s in Sri Lanka, and being able to manifest these honest stories on screen has undeniably widened the gates of South Asian cinema. It has opened the doors for other filmmakers to tackle controversial issues.
Topical Messages to Think About
When a film portrays certain issues by showing how painful it is to be a part of them, it allows the viewer to pause and think about their own ideologies. This is exactly what Funny Boy does. By presenting the way in which homosexuality is viewed in countries like Sri Lanka, the film questions the audience's perspective and possible bias while also revealing how far the country still has to go toward normalizing LGBTQIA+ experiences. The portrayal of ethnic tensions expresses the pain caused by long histories of prejudice and social strife which leads many citizens feeling alienated, sometimes giving them no option but to leave their home behind. Perhaps this is one reason why more people emigrate from South Asia than anywhere else in the world, with 106 million international migrants coming from Asia alone.
Funny Boy also indicates the way in which gender is seen in strictly binary ways in the South Asian context. Arjie's attempt at exploring his gender by experimenting with makeup through his Aunty's encouragement is a promising scenario. However, this is soon demolished when his parents angrily intervene. Whilst the world overall is yet to achieve gender equality, this specific plot line in Funny Boy is noteworthy for addressing gender norms in South Asia, and demonstrates how countries like Sri Lanka are nowhere close to eradicating strict, moralistic prejudice.
An All-South Asian Cast
Given that Funny Boy is a South Asian story, the film revolves around an all-South Asian cast, making it another phenomenal movie that has allowed brown stars to shine. Additionally, the film has created a platform for brilliant actors like Nimmi Harasgama, Ali Kazmi, and Agam Darshi to further their careers whilst giving the stage to upcoming stars like Ingram and Rehan Mudannayake. The fact that many actors are from Sri Lanka has made the film unique, and its casting makes it only one of two films on Netflix to have a predominantly Sri Lankan identity. The shift between Tamil and English in terms of spoken language also adds to the authenticity and manifests the novel's own use of linguistics to highlight the cultural tale.
Representing South Asia Internationally
When a film like Funny Boy is streamed on mainstream mediums like Netflix, it brings much-needed recognition to South Asian countries. The film's success is also seen through the many accolades it has won, such as the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. By bringing Selvadurai's award-winning book onto the screen, Mehta has definitely taken South Asian stories to new heights.
Funny Boy is undoubtedly a noteworthy and trailblazing film that has created a unique path for South Asian cinema. From its impressive casting to the representation of topics that have been and remain taboo in many South Asian countries, the movie is definitely an unexpected and authentic delight that is truly necessary for today's world.