Gay Bombay revisited - part three
When I shot my film “Indian Queens – the forbidden gay world of Bombay” in 1997, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalized homosexuality, was still the law. At the same time, a spirit of optimism prevailed in India. The country was opening up socially and economically and there was more freedom, which was also reflected in the gay scene.
Celebrated make-up artist Cory Wallia, one of my protagonists, was a leading figure of Bombay’s gay community. He gave me an insight into the trendy, glamorous side of the megacity which fascinated me.
I remember his fantastic birthday party on the roof of his house on December, 14, 1997 when he turned 38. It was a full moon and Goa trance, an electronic dance music style, was being played. The atmosphere was relaxed, chilled and trance-like.
We were very lucky to film Cory Wallia at work as he applied make-up to the face of the famous Astad Deboo, a pioneer of Indian modern dance. There was something magical about that shoot. I loved the way Astad and Cory danced together with so much joy.
A dazzling family background
Cory Wallia aka Karamjit Singh Wallia was born on December 14, 1959 to a Sikh father and a Maratha Hindu mother. His family history is dazzling. His great-grandmother was a devadasi (temple dancer) from Goa and his grandfather was the ruler of a small kingdom in what is now the state of Madhya Pradesh. Cory Wallia’s background sounds like a fairy tale and has many more ramifications, as he described in the “Indian Memory Project”.
Coming-out to the parents
Cory Wallia realized early on that he was different and was teased at school because of it. But he knew how to defend himself. His father, a businessman, was worried and felt that his son was not masculine enough. He was outraged about his son’s career aspirations at that time, such as air hostess or cabaret dancer. His father passed away when Cory was only sixteen years old. When Cory was seventeen, he told his mother that he was gay. She was open-minded and accepted it as long as he “conducts himself with dignity”. His sister had the same attitude.
In the mid-seventies, while still a teenager, Cory Wallia travelled through Europe and the USA. He was thrilled because it was the time when it became fashionable to be gay in the West. It was before AIDS and he visited all the glamourous places like Mykonos in Greece, which was known as a gay party island.
A celebrated make-up guru
Back in India, he initially tried to continue his father's wholesale business with clothing and other items. But he wasn’t happy at all, it bored him extremely. Eventually he gave up and found his calling as a make-up artist. And in this field he has become a star, a guru who has helped his customers - actresses, models, brides – to achieve a new Indian look.
Interview with Cory Wallia in November 1997
The interview with Cory Wallia gave me the impression that he is at peace with himself. He repeatedly emphasized that his homosexuality is only one of many facets of his personality. For him, it is more important what someone is like as a person; character, honesty, integrity count more. However, he also said that it is a struggle to make this clear to society.
After 22 years, I met him in his new home in Mumbai in February 2019. Just a few months earlier, on September 6, 2018, after a long struggle, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was finally removed and homosexuality was decriminalized in India. Cory Wallia invited me with some friends to a delicious Indian lunch that he prepared himself. We had a good time and watched the old film “Indian Queens” (28min., 1998) in which he was featured quite a bit.
Cory Wallia at his home in Mumbai, 2019
Last I heard from him, he was honored with the Rainbow Warrior Award 2022 at the Kashish Pride Film Festival. It is one of the most important LGBTQ film festivals in the world and has been held annually in Mumbai, India since 2010.
Congratulations Cory Wallia!
More information:
Cory Wallia was a protagonist of my film “Indian Queens - the forbidden gay world of Bombay” (28min., 1998). More about the old times you will find here: https://lekhasarkar.com/indian-queens
Related YouTube-stories “Mumbai Pride” and “Dodo - from glamour to social awareness, Mumbai, India”. He is a friend of Cory Wallia and was at his birthday party in 1997: youtube.com/@chitra_lekha_sarkar
All photos and videos: Copyright Chitra-Lekha Sarkar