UN launches Bollywood music video for gay rights in India
by The Daily Eye Team May 3 2014, 10:15 am Estimated Reading Time: 1 min, 3 secsThe Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Wednesday launched the first-ever Bollywood-style UN music video at a press conference in Mumbai, India to promote its Free & Equal campaign for LGBT equality. India is in the midst of a nationwide discussion on gay rights after its high court reinstated Section 377, a law from the British Colonial era that criminalizes sodomy, after it had been declared unconstitutional years before. That ruling is being challenged. Meanwhile, the high court this month handed down a landmark ruling that granted equality to third-gender and transgender Indians. The two-and-a-half minute video, called “The Welcome,” stars actress and former Miss India Celina Jaitly.
It tells the story of a handsome young Indian who brings his boyfriend home to meet his family for the first time, and the reaction. Jaitly, who last year was nominated by the High Commissioner as a “UN equality champion” in recognition of her support for LGBT equality, makes her musical debut in the video, singing a new version of the 1979 Bollywood classic, “Uthe Sab Ke Kadam.” The song was recomposed and remixed by Neeraj Shreedhar of the Bombay Vikings, and produced in association with the music company Saregama India.