Teenage Radha is on a road trip to self-discovery. Only the trip is not a voluntary one: Radha is forced by their family to get cured of the perceived deviances; a conversion therapy of sorts. Director Snigdha Kapoor tells it straight but with a lot of affection for the protagonist and their rebellion against the family, its conservatism, and limited perception of gender roles. There isn’t just a denial of queerness but an outright disregard of it as something abnormal. With the odds stacked against them, Radha must figure out their own identity and impulses while inhabiting a gender-fluid space. An unforeseen ally turns out to be the cousin who they are otherwise daggers drawn with. A talented ensemble of seasoned performers powers the film, including Anup Soni (Crime Patrol) who evokes just the right amount of fear and revulsion as the traditionalist uncle. But it is Mrunal Kashid who owns the film in the lead – baffled by the world around them yet aware of their own self, vulnerable yet no pushover.
Snigdha Kapoor
Snigdha Kapoor holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Journalism and Advertising. Her films explore gender, sexuality, and the experiences of women and children – offering nuanced perspectives that challenge societal norms. She was a NewFest New Voices Grant semi-finalist in 2023. Her short film Holy Curse premiered at the 68th BFI London Film Festival, won the Jury Award for Best Short Film at the Tasveer Film Festival, and Best LGBTQ Short at Flickerfest. Her short Look Like You was a ScreenCraft finalist and received the Audience Award at the Asian American International Film Festival. It is now streaming on BFI Player. Kapoor’s work has been featured in Forbes, Variety, and Attitude.
