India's first ever LGBTQ film Badnaam Basti’s restored version to be screened at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

Badnaam Basti

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) will premiere a restored version of 1971’s film Badnaam Basti, which was India’s first-ever LGBTQ movie. The event will be officially backed by the Government of another country, the Government of Victoria, Australia.

The highly anticipated event will honour the film’s legacy with the screening, followed by the Australian premiere of We Are Faheem and Karun, a tender queer love story directed by acclaimed filmmaker Onir.

However, IFFM Director Mitu Bhowmik Lange has recently talked about the festival's commitment to representation. He said, "At IFFM, we believe cinema has the power to connect and create conversations. It is our responsibility to reflect on the world we live in, with all its beautiful diversity.”

He added, “This Pride Night is not just about celebrating queer identity but also reclaiming the space that has long been denied to LGBTQIA+ narratives in Indian cinema. Through films like Badnaam Basti and We Are Faheem and Karun, we honour the past and embrace a future of inclusive storytelling."

IFFM 2025 is slated to screen 75 movies that explore the themes of inclusivity spanning gender, race, sexuality, disability, and women’s representation. However, IFFM will also hold a special LGBTQ+ Pride Night scheduled on August 22. The night promises to be a powerful tribute to queer cinema and Queer South Asian identity in Australia.

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Meanwhile, Badnaam Basti is an adaptation of Kamleshwar Prasad Saxenaa's novel and revolves around the relationship between its three main characters: dashing truck driver bandit Sarnam, the lovely Bansuri, whom he saves from being raped and handsome Shivraj, who works in a temple, is later hired by Sarnam.