My Brother... Nikhil (2004)
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76% of users liked it
(332 ratings)
My Brother...Nikhil isn't the first Hindi film to deal with AIDS, but unlike, say, Phir Milenge, which was essentially a Bollywood remake of Philadelphia with a heterosexual woman in the Tom Hanks role, My Brother...Nikhil is about a closeted gay man who contracts HIV, shattering his seemingly… More My Brother...Nikhil isn't the first Hindi film to deal with AIDS, but unlike, say, Phir Milenge, which was essentially a Bollywood remake of Philadelphia with a heterosexual woman in the Tom Hanks role, My Brother...Nikhil is about a closeted gay man who contracts HIV, shattering his seemingly perfect life. Nikhil (Sanjay Suri, who also produced the film) is a champion swimmer and local hero in Goa in the early '90s, where the film takes place. He has a loving relationship with his fiercely independent sister, Anamika (Juhi Chawla), and his doting mother (Lillete Dubey of Monsoon Wedding and Vanity Fair). His connection to his hard-driving father (Victor Banerjee) is more problematic. His father pushes Nikhil too hard at his swimming, becoming angry when the young man loses a race, and he also disapproves of Nikhil's friends, among whom is Nigel (Purab Kohli). When Nikhil is told that he has HIV, news spreads quickly throughout the region. His teammates on the swim team and most of his friends abandon him. His parents are publicly humiliated, and even they spurn him. Only Anamika, her husband, Sam (Gautam Kapoor), and Nigel stand by him. He needs all their help when he's arrested (contracting HIV or being openly gay were essentially criminal acts in India at the time) and held prisoner in an abandoned sanitarium. Those closest to Nikhil band together, hire a lawyer, and fight for his release. The story is told by Nikhil's loved ones, who address the camera directly, in the style of a documentary. The film is based on a true story. My Brother...Nikhil, written, directed, and edited by Onir, features music by Viveck Philip and lyrics by Amitabh Varma. It was shown at the 2005 New York Asian Film Festival, presented by Subway Cinema. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Directed By
- Onir
- Written By
- Onir, Amitabh Verma
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
- In Theaters
- Mar 25, 2005 Wide
- Studio
- Four Front Films
Critic Reviews
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Josh Ralske, Twitch
...when the entire production is clearly infused with such goodwill, it does add to its emotional impact.
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Cast
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Sanjay Suri
as Nikhil Kapoor
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Purab Kohli
as Nigel de Costa
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Juhi Chawla
as Anamika Kapoor
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Victor Banerjee
as Navin Kapoor
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Lillete Dubey
as Anita Rosario Kapoor
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Gautami Gadgil Kapoor
as Sam Fernandes
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Dipannita Sharma
as Leena Gomes
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Shweta Kawaatra
as Anjali Menzes
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Shayan Munshi
as Kelly Menzes
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Peeya Rai Choudhary
as Catherine
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Sujoy Ghosh
as Swimming Coach
- Bipannita Sharma
- Gutam Kapoor