Queer Heterotopias: Mapping Spatiality and Identity in Sachin Kundalkar’s Film Cobalt Blue

Author Information

Manju Dhariwal, The LNM Institute of Information Technology, India
Pragya Bhatnagar, The LNM Institute of Information Technology, India

Abstract

Drawing from Michel Foucault's notion of heterotopias, the present paper investigates what is conceptualized here as queer heterotopias in the Hindi film Cobalt Blue (2022), written and directed by Sachin Kundalkar. Queer heterotopias are physical spaces where individuals radically subvert the normative categories of gender and sexuality through experimentation and expression and explore different aspects of their identity, leading to a fluid understanding of gender and sexuality. Through a close analysis of the film Cobalt Blue, the present paper will examine queer heterotopias of lived spaces, the distinct "other spaces", which disrupt the normal order of reality and present an alternative temporary escape for gay people. Utilizing the theoretical framework of queer heterotopias, the paper probes how the characters in the film challenge fixed norms and categories and navigate their identities in the face of heteronormative expectations and personal desires. It further investigates how space and structures of the heterosexual matrix interact to configure the lives of queer people. The paper documents how queer space and identity emerge as a location of contestation in which the characters attempt to rewrite the scripts of identity. By highlighting the film's role in facilitating discussion on queer spaces, and diverse gender and sexual identities, the study aims to promote plurality, acceptance, and goodwill, fostering an inclusive society.

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