Mammootty's 'Kaathal' resurfaces in discussion as 'Dorothy' faces trolls

Karthik Subbaraj's 'Dorothy' has become a subject of online discussion following its theatrical release on September 25, with social media conversations focusing, among other things, on its reported LGBTQ-related themes.

The development has also prompted comparisons with Mammootty's 'Kaathal – The Core', directed by Jeo Baby, which placed a same-sex relationship at the centre of its story.The two films are distinct in their narratives, settings and treatment of their themes. However, both have brought conversations around LGBTQ representation, identity and relationships into the mainstream Indian cinema space.

Dorothy's reported LGBTQ content becomes a talking point after release

'Dorothy,' which opened in theatres in India on September 25, is written and directed by Karthik Subbaraj and stars Keerthy Suresh, Rishikanth and Sananth.

The film is set in rural Tamil Nadu and explores themes including friendship, love, caste, violence, patriarchy and masculinity. Its original score is by Ilaiyaraaja.Following its release, some social media users have criticised what they describe as LGBTQ-related elements in the film, while others have discussed the inclusion of themes that are less frequently foregrounded in commercial Tamil cinema.The controversy has also been linked to reports from Tamil media that Dorothy was denied a theatrical release in Malaysia, allegedly because of LGBTQ-related content and references to same-sex attraction.

However, reports available so far have not cited an official Malaysian censorship order, and the film's makers or Malaysian censorship authorities have not publicly confirmed the reported reason. The development should therefore be treated as a reported release setback rather than a formally confirmed ban.The Malaysia reports emerged shortly after Dorothy had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation.

Mammootty's 'Kaathal – The Core' brought LGBTQ representation into the mainstream

The discussion around Dorothy has also brought attention back to Mammootty's 'Kaathal – The Core', the 2023 Malayalam drama directed by Jeo Baby. Mammootty plays Mathew, a married man whose sexuality becomes central to the film's story, with Jyothika playing his wife, Omana. The film explores identity, marriage, family and social attitudes towards same-sex relationships.The film was explicitly classified as an LGBTQ drama by Apple TV, while its official trailer identifies Jeo Baby as director and Mammootty Kampany as producer.'Kaathal – The Core' also received significant recognition at the 54th Kerala State Film Awards. It won four honours: Best Film, Best Story, Best Music Direction for Background Score and a Special Mention for Sudhi Kozhikode. The Best Film award went to director Jeo Baby and producer Mammootty.The Kerala government's publication describing the awards specifically noted that the film explored the struggles of a gay couple and highlighted its portrayal of marginalised voices.

'Dorothy' and 'Kaathal' reflect different approaches to LGBTQ themes

While 'Kaathal – The Core' places its central character's sexuality directly within the narrative of a marriage and family, Dorothy is a broader rural drama dealing with friendship, love, caste, violence and social attitudes towards masculinity. Its publicly available synopsis describes two childhood friends whose lives are transformed by the arrival of Dorothy.As 'Dorothy' begins its theatrical run, discussions around its LGBTQ-related themes are developing alongside broader conversations about representation in Indian cinema. Unlike 'Kaathal – The Core', which has already had time to receive awards recognition, 'Dorothy' is at the beginning of its theatrical journey and its longer-term critical and audience response remains to be seen.Directed and written by Karthik Subbaraj, 'Dorothy' is produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain, with Ilaiyaraaja composing the original score.