This Indo-British Producer Is Making Films On LGBTQ, Raising Issues No One Is Talks About

It all began when Neeraj Churi moved to the UK and started to finance films after a few friends from LGBTQIA+ community approached him. He took that opportunity to help the community and give it back to them in whichever way he could. So, he chose cinema -- to be specific -- feature films.

He has earned numerous credits and accolades for his feature films, including Evening Shadows, Sisak, and Sheer Qorma, which features Shabana Azmi, Divya Dutta, and Swara Bhaskar in lead roles. Through the Kashish film festival, which is organised annually, Neeraj who belongs to the community himself, gives a handful of QDrishti Film Grant awards to aspiring queer filmmakers to help them achieve milestones in the industry.

Neeraj Churi

His aim? Support LGBTQIA+ community, give opportunities to LGBTQIA+ filmmakers and writers and have a vast audience to spread awareness about the community. "I want to open up more and more avenues for the community. The characters in mainstream movies that are played by transgenders are often shown in a negative light. I want that to stop," he told IndiaTimes.

Talking about films, videos and series he has produced with a special message, he mentioned Mind Mera Mind, Catch The Light and Tore Bina, all available on YouTube.

Girl losing eyesight, explores bisexuality

He said, "In Catch The Light series, a young girl who is losing eyesight explores her bisexuality. She has just lost her mother, moves in with her estranged father. The move to the new town open her to new possibilities, new friendships and freedom to explore herself."

Neeraj Churi

Man struggles with sexuality, anxiety

Talking about a film which he is very close to, Churi said, "In Mind Mera Mind, a young man who has just started to become independent, finds himself grappling with issues around sexuality, body image, and finding love. It goes to the point where his day-to-day functioning is impaired, with insomnia, self-doubt, and anxiety keeping him on edge." He explains the movie is on mental health and taboo surrounding the topic.

Trans child abandoned by family, accepted by LGBTQIA+

Churi further speaks about a music video that is based on a phenomena that happens more than often. "Tore Bina is a song about a trans child abandoned by the family but is accepted by LGBTQIA+ community. And grows up to be a lawyer," he said.

Neeraj Churi

"The two things that I vouch for are: Authenticity and Representation. I want that to be addressed through my films. I try to capture the pulse of the community though my work and what conversations people are having about us."

His appeal to other filmmakers

Making an appeal, Churi said, "Anyone who is making a film about transgenders or bisexuals should speak to them and represent them correctly. So that it comes out correctly. Be authentic, that's all," he added.

Neeraj Churi

Churi has so far produced 13 films and many of his films have made to global film festivals. He is an alumnus of the New York Film Academy and also holds degrees in Information Science Management, and has worked extensively in managing complex projects for top-tier financial institutions in the past.

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