Not a niche problem

India and many other countries worldwide have been mistakenly wasting energies on the "how" of AIDS, writes Vijaya Sharma.

Here is a film made on a subject, which a huge majority of people has little idea about, though India is dangerously poised to become the nation with the largest number of AIDs cases. The ignorance is confined not just to the uneducated but surprisingly the "seemingly" educated too. The subject in question: AIDS. The film: .

You can watch My Brother Nikhil for a couple of very good reasons.

For Sanjay Suri's heartfelt performance. His transformation from the energetic 'star' swimmer to the outcast HIV patient has you wondering why Bollywood consistently shuns talented performers. The heartening note: the prestigious banner, Yash Raj Films, has distributed it. There is hope still for good cinema.

Suri is state champion swimmer in Goa. He is introduced to us by his sister, brother, mother, and friends who take us through Nikhil's life from 1987 to 1994. Nikhil's world crumbles around him when he is told he is HIV positive. Suri's subtle body language and expressions make dialogues redundant. Just two instances:

The first time when he is sort of told that he suffers from AIDS and subsequently, the one-time star of Goa is shunned by his teammates, Nikhil, humiliated, hurt, confused, goes to his sister and confidante, his "princess" Anamika (Juhi Chawla) and tells her: "I love you princess" and curls up in her lap.

The second instance is when his parents discover he has AIDS. Nikhil cowers helplessly as he is beaten up by his father who can't belive how his "polite, well-mannered" son could do such a bad thing. Nikhil, bruised and bleeding, packs his bags, ready to leave home.

In the verandah, his mother, played by theatre personality Lillette Dubey, sits in silence. He calls out to her and she says to her "little boy": You were born premature, I wish you were...

Suri's lower lip trembles, his chin wobbles, his head is bowed and he walks out of home. The same home where everything was done according to his wishes. Hamare ghar par to aisa hi hai. No more so. Suri had many secretly wiping wet cheeks in the chiaroscuro theatre.

Watch it for Bhutan-bred Kolkata born Onirban's straigtforward and earnest direction. Watch it for his focus. He hammers away constantly that it is not how Nikhil acquired AIDS which is important but what happens after he has AIDS. Rightly so. India and many other countries worldwide have been mistakenly wasting energies on the "how" of AIDS.

The film touches on all aspects related to AIDS - the social stigma, the ignorance about AIDS - without making the narrative cluttered. Onirban's approach to the subject clarity of vision is compelling.

Like another recent film on the subject, Phir Milenge, My Brother Nikhil is a niche film. But why let it remain so. Watch it. Recommend it to friends. Talk about it to as many people you know because AIDS is certainly not a niche problem.