Jaydeep Sarkar, ‘Rainbow Rishta’

Thursday 27th March, 2025

4:00 pm, ArtsOne BLOC Cinema

Please join us for a screening of episode one of Rainbow Rishta (2023), followed by a talk from the filmmaker Jaydeep Sarkar and an audience Q&A. This event is hosted by the QM South Asia Forum and Peace in India.

All welcome but please click here to register via TicketTailor.

Rainbow Rishta is a GLAAD-nominated documentary series that premiered at the 2023 JIO MAMI Film Festival. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, the six-part series explores real, powerful love stories across India, highlighting diverse queer experiences, including those of intersex individuals—voices seldom heard in mainstream media. Praised as a “Breakthrough Series” by Nikkei Asia, “Moving and Necessary” by Times Now, and “Raw and Genuine” by India Today, Rainbow Rishta is a pioneering work in South Asian queer storytelling.

Jaydeep Sarkar is a filmmaker and writer. He has directed several award-winning commercials and written films like Khoya Khoya Chand and Shaurya. His directorial ventures – including the short film Nayantara’s Necklace and OTT series Rainbow Rishta, nominated for a 2024 GLAAD Award – have received global acclaim. In 2024, Jaydeep was named a Breakthrough Artist by The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).

Jaydeep’s talk is called ‘How I discovered courage, found a community, and discovered the strength to celebrate myself in the most unexpected places’. Working on Rainbow Rishta, Jaydeep uncovered an unexpected truth: small-town India often leads in inclusivity. Rainbow Rishta highlights some of these untold stories, challenging the stereotype that small-town India is more regressive than its urban centres. Speaking about his experience of discovering these stories while making the landmark show, Jaydeep provocatively asks: While the queer rights movement has largely been shaped by western pride ideologies, might it be time for us to broaden our view by drawing on the inclusive traditions and practices found within South Asian cultures and communities?