One fateful day in 1991 at a Narmada Bachao Andolan rally, IIT Kharagpur graduate Rahul Banerjee’s life changed forever when he laid eyes on Subhadra Khaperde, a staunch Dalit Neo-Buddhist activist. For him, it was love at first sight. Despite moving against the currents of their different communal backgrounds – he being a Hindu Brahmin and she a committed social activist – they found solace and love in each other’s convictions. After a persistent courtship, Subhadra reciprocated Rahul’s feelings, and two years later, the pair bravely faced the opposition of their families to forge their union.
This compelling tale of steadfast love amidst societal division is now one of the six captivating narratives presented in Amazon Prime Video’s most recent anthology, “Love Storiyaan,” a Valentine’s Day special. Echoing the spirit of the social media initiative India Love Project, helmed by journalists Priya Ramani, Samar Halarnkar, and Niloufer Venkatraman, the series celebrates love transcending boundaries of religion, caste, ethnicity, and gender.
The innovative programming choice to highlight real stories rather than fiction positions “Love Storiyaan” apart from its contemporaries. Somen Mishra, behind the creative development at Dharmatic Entertainment, initially toyed with a fictional format. However, he pivoted towards real-life narratives believing it to be a more stirring approach, capable of featuring individuals who have tenaciously overcome formidable obstacles for love.
The emotional authenticity of “Love Storiyaan” is further enhanced by the personal investment and connection of its six directors – Akshay Indikar, Archana Phadke, Collin D’Cunha, Hardik Mehta, Shazia Iqbal, and Vivek Soni – to the real-world stories they are rendering. According to Mishra, the goal was for each real-life love story to resonate deeply with its respective director.
For Akshay Indikar, a Marathi filmmaker with an intercaste marriage background, Subhadra and Rahul’s journey resonated on multiple levels. It wasn’t only their love that sparked interest but also their collective commitment to social upliftment. Indikar, whose previous work includes the poignantly crafted “Sthalpuran,” sought to frame their journey as one of both personal and shared struggles gleamed with a fighting spirit.
Shazia Iqbal connected profoundly with the love story of the Sahas, a septuagenarian couple from Kolkata whose hearts intertwined during the Bangladesh Liberation Movement. Their remarkable escapade of crossing borders and forsaking family ties, and yet fostering no resentment, offers a poignant narrative. Iqbal’s empathy stemmed from witnessing the societal ‘othering’ that occurs with interfaith unions within her family, making her approach to their tale uniquely sensitive.
Dhanya and Homayon’s love tale straddles the cultural chasm between Kerala and Afghanistan. Archana Phadke, a National Award winner, delved into the formidable challenges the couple endured throughout their twenty-year marriage, including dire circumstances in war-battered Afghanistan. Phadke lays bare the essence of love as a formidable strength through their narrative.
The North-meets-South Indian love story of Aekta Kapoor and Ullekh N.P. resonated with director Hardik Mehta, who was familiar with cross-cultural unions. The narrative’s intrigue for Mehta lay in witnessing how the couple rallied to win over the skepticism of Aekta’s daughters from her previous marriage.
Exploring the tale of Shillong-based radio jockeys Nicholas J. Kharnami and Rajani K. Chhetri became an intimate journey for director Vivek Soni. Their love story, built upon an on-air prank and navigating challenges like parental disapproval and addiction, unfolded before him with heartbreaking candor.
Lastly, the love of Tista Das and Dipan Chakraborty stands as an affirmation of life, narrated by director Collin D’Cunha. Their relationship not only carries personal significance for them as individuals who have surmounted incredible personal challenges related to gender identity, but it also signifies a transformative moment for the transgender community in West Bengal.
The collective strength, resilience, and endearing fortitude of these six couples is masterfully captured in “Love Storiyaan,” offering viewers an opportunity to witness authentic love stories that are as transformative as they are true. As this anthology sheds light on their journeys, it also illuminates the undeniable truth that love, in its purest form, knows no barriers.
