Boos as Bollywood tackles Aids

2004-08-27 18:27

Mumbai - India's first mainstream movie that tackles Aids opened worldwide on Friday, with the film's makers expressing hopes that it could help end the stigma around the disease.

But some fans who watched the first showing in Bombay theatres booed and heckled, objecting to one of their movie heroes - Salman Khan - portraying someone with Aids.

Several people left after finding out what the movie was about.

Phir Milenge, or We'll Meet Again, is a departure for India's prolific film industry, Bollywood, which is best known for its sugarcoated romances and action-packed thrillers.

Indian movie stars Khan and Shilpa Shetty portray Aids-infected characters jolted out of their normal lives to fight discrimination at work and in society.

India has 5.1 million HIV-positive people, the world's second-highest number of infections after South Africa.

International health experts say infections could skyrocket if more isn't done to combat the spread of the virus.

Boos and catcalls

Many in India are reluctant to talk about Aids and prevention because of societal taboos about discussing sex. Those with HIV/Aids in India often face discrimination and local media has reported widely on schools and hospitals that turn them away people.

In Bombay, tickets - usually sold out days before a release featuring top stars - were still available at theatres before the first show began.

In a couple of Bombay theatres, there were boos and catcalls when Khan was shown fighting for his life in a hospital.

Engineering student Ali Amin, 20, said more such films were needed.

"The subject was handled well. It's high time we began changing our attitudes," said Amin.

"The movie shows it's not just illiterates, but also the educated who don't have a clue about Aids."

The movie's director, Revathy Menon, said earlier this week that several actors turned down the leading male role because they were worried it would blemish their image.

"But the truth is, we're the second-largest country in the world affected by Aids and we need to focus on care and medication of HIV patients," Menon had said.

UNAids helping to promote movie

Bollywood movies are watched by millions, particularly in countries with big Asian populations, and Phir Milenge is being released simultaneously in India, Britain, the United States, Canada, Dubai, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia.

Kenneth Anderson, the head of UNAids in India, said this week the organisation would help promote the movie in Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

"It's really a breakthrough," Anderson said.

"It's very important that a serious issue like HIV/Aids is moving into mainstream Indian cinema."

- AP