Kalki Koechlin is starring in a new film which deals with a topic rarely discussed- sexuality of disabled persons. The movie is getting a world premiere on Sep 8 at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2014. The film is about a rebellious young woman with cerebral palsy who leaves her home in India to study in New York, unexpectedly falls in love, and embarks on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery.
People with disability are often treated as without any kind of sexual needs or sexuality. Film maker Shonali Bose, in an interview, attributes the inspiration behind the story to her younger cousin, Malini, who has cerebral palsy. During her 40th birthday, when Shonali asked her cousin’s wish, she straight forward responded that she wanted to have sex. Till now, Shonali had never considered her cousin’s sexuality or sexual desires. Shonali describes the movie as: “In Margarita, With a Straw, Laila falls repeatedly in love, yearns to have sex and wants to be a Bollywood songwriter. She is a brilliant mind trapped in a disobedient body.”
The trailer of the movie has just been released. Watch it below.