My Brother.Nikhil
Onir/India/2005/35mm/120min

Nikhil Kapoor is at the top of his game. He's popular with his friends, the pride of his family, and has just won the state all round swimming championship in Goa. Yet he struggles to live up to his family's expectations and to hide his relationship with boyfriend Nigel. When Nikhil unsuspectingly learns he is HIV positive, he begins to lose his family and his freedom. Forced into government-mandated isolation and deserted by his community, Nikhil begins to lose hope. Only Anamika, his sister, and Nigel stand by him. Together they take on government and family and prove that unconditional love can break barriers, transform communities and mend families.

This film represents a pivotal point in South Asian cinema. It is the first film portraying gay leading characters to receive mainstream distribution in India. My Brother.Nikhil is inspired by the life of Indian swimmer Dominic D'Souza, one of the first openly HIV-positive activists in India.

Winner of both the Jury and Audience Awards at Montreal's Image+Nation Film Festival

Hindi with English subtitles