Funny Boy (2020)

In the vibrant, yet turbulent landscape of Sri Lanka in the 70s and 80s, Funny Boy weaves an intricate tale of personal discovery and societal struggle. The story is set amid the opulent realm of the Tamil upper class, a minority group in a predominantly Sinhalese nation. We follow the journey of Arjie, a spirited eight-year-old boy who finds joy in dressing up as a bride and staging processions with his female cousins. When his unusual proclivity is discovered by the adults, he's labeled as "funny" - a term he innocently fails to comprehend, yet understands carries a stigmatized weight. In the midst of his confusion, Arjie finds solace in his charismatic aunt Radha, freshly returned from Canada. Radha, recognizing Arjie's emerging sexuality, stands as a protective figure, intent on nurturing his self-worth. However, her life becomes entangled when she falls for Anil, a charming Sinhalese man, a relationship that dares to cross the tense ethnic divide. As Radha wrestles with the choice between love and loyalty to her family, Arjie learns harsh realities about the world's limitations. The narrative leaps forward to Arjie at 17, navigating a new school where he experiences his first love with Shehan, a Sinhalese classmate. Their budding romance unfolds against the backdrop of escalating ethnic tensions that eventually explode into a civil war, forcing Arjie's family to seek refuge in Canada. In this new land, Arjie is 'free' to explore his sexuality, a liberty forbidden back home. But this freedom is not without its challenges, as he confronts the prejudices of a society that views him through the prism of his race, culture, and sexuality. Funny Boy is a vivid tapestry of a coming-of-age love story intertwined with the oppressive reality of minority persecution. It's a story of self-acceptance, love, and the high cost of freedom, set in a world where personal desires and societal norms clash against a backdrop of political unrest.

Funny Boy is a drama movie featuring Arush Nand.

Funny Boy is currently streaming on Netflix and Netflix basic with Ads.