All the actors turn in absolutely top-notch professional performances. Even as they tip-toe around culturally and morally touchy subjects, they captivate with understatement and warmth.

Purab Kohli (Nigel) and Sanjay Suri (Nikhil) as gay lovers--with no onscreen sex or even kissing--offer in their brave portrayals a window for Indian society to see homosexuals in a full, dignified human way. In fact, virtually all the main characters in this movie are role models for tolerance and understanding, and through this first-of-its-kind film are presented to a culture that hasn't yet come to terms with either HIV/AIDS or homosexuality.

Special mention must be made of actor Victor Banerjee, who plays Nikhil’s father Navin Kapoor. Reminiscent of the reserved, down-to-earth acting style of Adolf Menjou from Hollywood’s golden era, Victor’s performance in this film is a revelation of natural, low-key believability. Early on in the story his character is little more than a generic “Ward Cleaver” kind of one-dimensional dad. But as the plot progresses, his portrayal evolves right along with it.

The culminating scenes in which he breaks down in emotional crisis over the tragedy of his son are nothing less than devastating.

A high point at the film’s New York Asian Film Festival screening was when its handsome star Sanjay Suri, (Nikhil), appeared onstage in person at the movie’s end to speak to the audience. To suddenly see him in the flesh, alive and well, after the torture of watching his slow wasting death onscreen, was an emotional shock to all. It was like seeing a loved one come back from death, and the audience let out a simultaneous gasp and sigh of relief as he took the stage. Also on hand at the NYC screening was the film’s director and screenwriter, Onir.

He noted, in his talk to the audience, that although there appears the standard disclaimer at the beginning of the film--stating it is a fictitious story--My Brother Nikhil is actually based on true historical fact. The Indian government forced him to use the disclaimer in order to gain permission to make the film.

So strong is AIDS discrimination and anti-gay bias in India today that even local Goan churches refused Onir the use of their buildings to film.

Viewing My Brother Nikhil can be an emotionally exhausting experience, because it reminds us of our own recent history, much of which we perhaps hoped we’d never have to deal with again. But when we see the same things occurring in India today that Americans went through ourselves only a short time ago, the term “never forget” has never seemed more relevant.

Get more information at mybrothernikhil.com

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