Watch: Mr. & Mr. Iyer A State of Mind
What happens when a traditional Tamil Brahmin family goes delightfully “out of tradition” to plan their son’s same-sex wedding? The answer: laughter, love, and a lot of cultural truths. Mr. & Mr. Iyer (2015), an English Tamil short film, breaks stereotypes with humour while showing us that queer weddings can be just as desi, dramatic, and heartwarming as any other Shaadi.
Produced by Bench Culture, this indie gem uses the familiar setting of an Iyer household to talk about homosexuality, family acceptance, and queer love. Instead of falling into clichés of tragedy, the film embraces comedy, reminding us that laughter is a powerful tool for inclusion.
At a time when Indian cinema often shied away from LGBTQ+ themes, Mr. & Mr. Iyer stood out by saying: tradition can bend, stereotypes can be subverted, and yes, two grooms can tie the knot while the aunties gossip in the background.
The Story
The film begins with Shiva, an Iyer boy, telling his parents he’s ready to marry. His mother, like any doting Brahmin mom, rushes to spread the news to relatives complete with the classic “your son married a Punjabi girl, so…” comparisons.
What follows is a comedy of reactions captured through the metaphor of four states of matter (Solid, Liquid, Gas, Vapour). Each state reflects the family’s emotional journey: shock, resistance, confusion, and eventual acceptance.
Memorable Dialogues That Stole the Show
- “Manni you’ll save so much money on buying silk sarees.”
- “So, who will be the groom’s side here?”
- “Will there even be a thali, or shall we buy a gold poonac?”
- “Will the boy sit on his mother’s lap while getting married?”
The brilliance lies in how the film uses Brahmin slang and cultural quirks not to stereotype but to humanize. We don’t laugh at the family; we laugh with them as they fumble towards progress.
Why It Matters in Queer India
- Normalizes queer weddings: The film reminds us that love between two men can be celebrated in rituals as beautifully as any hetero wedding.
- Humour as activism: Instead of preaching, the film pokes fun at rigid customs, making queerness relatable to wider audiences.
- Cultural specificity: Representation isn’t genericity’s steeped in Tamil Brahmin traditions, proving queer stories exist in every community.
“Rather than it being a stereotype, it makes you easily connect to the characters in the movie.”
Practical Takeaways
- Representation doesn’t always need to be tragic joy and humour are radical.
- Queer love stories in India can and should reflect cultural diversity.
- Family acceptance can start with awkward conversations, and that’s okay.
- Short films like this are powerful tools to spark dialogue in living rooms, not just in Pride parades.
Mr. & Mr. Iyer isn’t just a short filmi’s a reminder that queer love and desi traditions can coexist. With humour, heart, and a pinch of gossip, it celebrates what Pride in India is all about: visibility, acceptance, and joy.
🎥 Watch the film here: Mr. & Mr. Iyer YouTube
