Abstract
In Indian society, the caste system and its social hierarchies result in the marginalization of certain communities, notably the Dalits. Within the Dalit community, Dalit women face greater discrimination as their caste and gender identities intersect and intensify their plight. Similarly, the entrenched gender binary system and the dominant heterosexuality marginalize the queer community people. This intersection of Dalit, women, and queer identity unveils the challenges faced by individuals who navigate these marginalized identities. Films have emerged as the voices of marginalized communities and have made an effort to incorporate Dalit Queer narratives, depicting the harsh realities unfolding in Indian society. The paper offers a critical reading of a Bollywood short film Geeli Pucchi (2021) directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the third part of the Netflix web series (anthology) titled “Ajeeb Daastaans”. The select film portrays the complex interplay of caste, gender, and sexuality. The paper attempts to analyze the intersectional realities of caste in lesbian love and argues that caste as an identity is a prominent oppressor that intersects with other identities such as gender and sexuality, complicating the lived realities of an individual. The paper further explores the visual metaphors employed in the select film, revealing the pervasive influence of caste in our daily lives.
Keywords: Dalits, Films, Gender, Identities, Intersection, Queer, Visuals.