of Onir, mumbai mirror and drawing a line.
*** hot off the presses onir’s reaction (via Twitter ***)
“ I am ANGRY and Traumatised . How can someone use my trust and get away with cheap publicity by spreading vile lies in the media.”
“ I want to tell you all i am not going to use this for publicity but I am going to fight this legally.”
“ I will nor let anyone get away by damaging my dignity and integrity
Please guys #supportonir
look at us. look at all of us. and before i throw stones, look at ME. whats my response to the dumbification of my world? to the whoring of our souls for media inches? an outraged blogpost. that’s all. Shame on me.
Today the Mumbai Mirror’s Front page story was sensational, something so voyeuristic and twisted, that for me it really seems to be the last straw.
First an argument on the facts
1. I know onir personally for more than 5 years. i have worked with him, very closely on My Brother Nikhil, and now on I Am. That man wouldnt molest a mouse! He’s so friggin, for lack of a better word, CUTE! tell him a slightly racy story and he starts blushing! this man? a MOLESTER? Hardly.
2. Onir is also 5 foot nothing. Honestly, how does a 5 foot nothing molest a 6 footer? really? i mean, i know there’s that whole power funda, but refer to point 1! have you SEEN the other guy? hes one of those gym working-out struggler types! noone molests HIM!
3. The guy sms-ed onir in the morning with a smilie. Yes, that’s what you send to your molester. a ” 
“
so ok, something happened and it was consensual. someone made a baseless allegation, just to get attention. And what do we do?
we give it to him.
After an alleged “molestation”, this individual goes, not to the cops, but to the media. Fine, perhaps this media crazy world has gone to his head and he’s not thinking straight. but how does the media react?
in the race for a little bit of viewership, it hangs an individual out to dry. It destroys a persons reputation, just for the sake of sensation
It forcefully parades an individual’s sexuality for the voyeuristic pleasure of a gossip hungry public and our voyeuristic minds salivate over it.
some questions i want to ask. Actually, there are SO MANY questions i want to ask, but here are just two
1. Would this have happened if the story wasnt about “homosexuality” – if an unknown girl went to a newspaper saying that someone, say… i dont know, Sanjay dutt, tried to molest her, would the media have given it front page news, or would it have just raised a few cynical eyebrows and no more?
2. Imagine if this happened to you. someone flirts with you, you flirt back, you hit it off, make out a bit, and BAM! the next day that person accuses you of molestation/rape. Your entire moral fibre is put into question in the most horrible of ways, in front of the world, for no fault of yours. Imagine how it will make your MOTHER feel. Just… imagine.
The irony, the sad sad irony of this whole thing is that in onir’s film, Rahul Bose’s character is exorted and blackmailed because of his sexuality just like onir has been in real life. the portrayal in the film is shocking – in real life, its unbelievable.
We really need to draw a line somewhere. At some point we need to do something to stop this wanton, callous attitude of the media.
I really dont know how to react – maybe you can tell me what you think about it?
Sensationalisation by the media. It’s disgusting.
I hate this kind of cheap publicity and irresponsible journalism. Do not let the chap get away with his 5 sec of fame. loosers all. I support Onir and stand by him in his fight for dignity and right to be who he is.
More strength to you Onir. All those who know you and love you stand with you.
Is Onir a gay?? I always thought he is..Oh My God,I loved his movie.. But this story is fake.That guy must had used him.
These sort of allegations are baseless and simply ridiculous…. I too am a Gay man currently residing in Milano, Italy….. and i am the loud kinds… i have slept with plenty of so called straight men who have blamed the experimental sexual endeavor on alcohol… but i can guarantee, with my vast experience all across the world, if a guy does not want it he won’t do it… so it is always consensual ….. Onir is a very sweet guy and I support him completely…..
i am a big fan of onir and have read a lot about him and his work…when i came to know about what all happened.well as obvious as that i would like to stick to the fact dat onir is 5 feet guy and the other model is a gym tonned 6 feet tall guy.i think the case could have been vice versa as the gym toned guy could have dominated onir and forced him to go sexual.but as far as the way it is projected is lame and completely upfrontly unreal..wich is just to gain attention by the strugling model and mark an ill speck on the decent onir!!! i am rahul and i support onir…
I know Onir personally for sometime now and all that i can say is that his very name evokes a feeling of deep respect. I have made a short film and wanted Onir to see it coz it was on an issue that is close to his heart.
Onir was not only kind enough to invite us at his house and watch the film but also gave his valuable comments and feedback. It was because of him that our film got a chance to be sent to I View Film Festival and trust me he never even let us acknowledge him for the same.
I am sure this is not my story only. He has been a mentor to so many like me and has always encouraged young people to foray into the industry.
It is really shocking and hurting to see such a person facing allegations for the whims and fancies of some cheap publicity freak model.
Journalism has descended to an absolutely shitty hole with this. Irresponsible, cheap, and not pausing to think of the damage, the hurt… Onir has a reputation, a family, friends, old parents…
When I read the story, my first thought was also that it is like the Rahul-Arjun episode from I Am, taken and twisted to punish Onir for something.
What I can’t understand is, what kind of publicity does one get from a story like that and does that kind of publicity help anyone in getting something?
I dont think the news has been sensationalised JUST because its about homo-sexuality. Even if any starlet would have made the same accusations against Onir, the media would have lapped it up nonetheless. May the truth be out soon, and the guilty be punished.
dis….yuvraaj..parashar..is…a…struggler…n…he…can…do…any….cheap…stuff…to…gain…publicity…he…n…his….friend…group…alll…r…cheap…n…selfish…people…..as…he…couldnt…do…nythng….in..his…film….he…is…paying….his…pr…to..attain…cheap…publicity…
god , send me an angel…
named onir…….he made my dream come true
today , i woke up to see , molestation charges on him.., an attempt to gain publicity ……..it is so , unbelievable,,,,,,,,,,
ONIR , CANT DO THIS……………never
he made my dream , come true
and , he is a gem of a person,,,,,,,,,,,
who values, sentiments………..
so , i support onir
Sadly, this is the sort of thing that happens when one becomes a public figure, and especially a successful and/or popular one. The accuser is likely seeking attention and publicity, or perhaps money, and with no regard as to who he hurts in the process. Onir has used his creativity and caring to do good things via his films, and it is a travesty that this should happen to him. Thankfully, it will all blow over and be forgotten soon enough, but I feel for Onir and how used he must feel now. His trust has been compromised and that is something that can take years to get over, if ever.
Mike Barnum
i am deeply disappointed and very disgusted to have read the article.. it is completely irrisposible to publish such an article.. i know onir personally and he is one of the most honest,sensitive,grounded and uncorrupted persons i have met,and its a pitty that he of all the people has to be subjected to such alligations made by a cheap, publicity seeking wannabe.. onir all my strength and power to you.. untruth never lasts.. love to you..
will the journalist in question of mumbai mirror bharti own up to her terrible terrible mistake and do something
can we not get her to understand what she has done
can someone honour her with the award- The most callous and shameful Journalist of the year!!
This is simply a case of a person trying to get his five minutes in the limelight just as our dastardly media seems interested in the quickest way to sell newspapers – both at the cost of someone else’s peronal space, reputation and career! Of course this won’t get the 6-foot-something anywhere, certainly not anywhere close to the film industry if that’s what he was hoping for! Hang in there, Onir, this too will pass and if need be, we’ll testify to your infallible character!
Onir’s integrity cannot, and will not be questioned. There is no room for the endeavour of a loathsome publicity stunt…
We have got to know better than to dignify this nonsense…
His movies are sensitive and so is he. For all the fuss over his sexuality and preferences, I have seen Onir maintain a respectable distance from everyone he interacts with, including even those whom he is familiar with..unlike many people I know..and one look at him shows you that he doesn’t need to molest people to get off..funnily enough its going to be Mr Parasher who gets taught a lesson…a six foot whiny sour puss who could not use his talent to make his family proud..IAM Aruna and I support Onir – wholeheartedly
Reading all this in berlin really sounds bizarr. I guess for everyone knowing onir personally these accusations sound totally unbelievable and ridiculous. But for me the most horrible thing about it is that finally the media succeded in forcing onir to openly state “i am gay”. Something he – as far as i know – avoided to say in the media throughout the years. Not because he was a coward or was afraid of the consequences in his professional surroundings – everybody knows that he took every possible opportunity to openly stand up for and support gay rights etc.- but because he wanted to take a political stand by not fullfilling the desire of the media, the public for a form of identity politics, meaning ‘narrowing somebody down on his or her sexual orientation’. For me the most powerful thing in ‘My brother Nikhil’ was that he – very consciously – never made the relationship of Nigel and Nikhil an “issue”, a “problem”. The same strategy he very succesfully used in “I am…”. Now the situation has drasticly changed – with all its painful consequences. But I am convinced that Onir will react on it in the same brave, uncompromising and honest way he is working on his films. So Onir, keep your head up in the sky! We need your smile, your laughter, your sarcasm and your strong believe that there is a possibility to live one’s life without using all those stupid power-games. We need your voice!
I am really furious on ways people try to garner publicity!! What a shame! Onir is one of the most promising directors in Indian Cinema whose movies portrays the vulnerabilities and sensitivities of the under represented communities. I love his temple of work. His integrity will never be questioned by this baseless allegations. I am requesting everyone out there to come out and support Onir!
Take a lesson from this… n take me to that scumbag i will teach hi the lesson..about how to get fame.. he want fame na.. i will do it for him…. onir.though we dnt know each other but from being a part lgbt community i will support u till end….
I know my brother so very well and I know it is impossible for him to hurt another human being. I hope people who have watched my brother’s movies also have the same belief.
It is sad that someone who is so strongly liberal, fair-minded and always worked for values, has to go through this all because of a sickly media. We can only hope that truth wins.
I know Onir for 15 years now. I don’t feel the need to write what a great person he is. It’s enough to write that I feel personally hurt, harmed – and that I’m very angry. Angry on a much larger scale than just about one stupid guy trying to catch a bit of fame. Angry rather against a world of double standards which seems to push us into being small fearful bitter beings. Well, soory: It won’t happen. Onir, you’ll just get stronger, and more brave, and you’ll enjoy the life you have chosen. Cause you’re not alone.
I’d hate this story if it happened to anyone, but I hate it some additional percent as something that someone would try to do to this man, you can so well tell from his beautiful and courageous work AND from his exceptionally gentle personal presence — I have met Onir several times here in New York — that he would never do such a thing.
And then on less spiritual grounds, the idea that a big strong 28-year-old man is not responsible for his own actions — or alcohol use! – is just amazingly silly, the more so in relation to Onir, who is as already noted not at all big, I am 5’3″ and I think he is shorter than I am.
its shocking onir is a great personality doing gud work for society, he is very down to earth always smiling, shy guy, a lovely person 4 little publicity ppl say anything 4 anyone we should oppose such ppl in our society,,,,so support onir n favour him by going to watch I AM in theatres near u in march,,,thnx
probably,cheap publicity is what yuvraaj is looking for…i am myself ashamed in typing the alphabets of that disgraceful man…
Onir sir is the most harmless person on earth.I am working with him since his last film “Sorry Bhai”. The allegations made by that ^%$#@# is complete nonsense and I can’t even imagine Onir Sir doing this in my dream. He is the most honest person I know in the industry. His only weakness is that he trusts people very easily and people take him for granted…after this incident I am sure no Film maker would want to meet newcomers that easily.
No one who has ever known you, even if it is for a short time will ever doubt your integrity. There is absolutely no way I could or would believe the accusations made against you. The media rushing to print baseless accusations is in itself a crime and needs to be dealt with. I only hope the bitterness of being used like this does not change you. Don’t allow the media to win, and one of their victories will be changing you. Always with you.
I know Onir since last 12 years and I am with him. I have stayed with Onir at his place twice overnight and talked to him till so late & watched movies together at khar, versova so many times. I know he would never do such a thing… He is most humble sensible and harmless guy. Truth will be out soon.
I was positively shocked to read those things being written about you. As a fan and friend, I stand by you. And I believe that these times will pass soon.
It`s a totally unbelieveable story which serves only one reason:
to fill this newspaper’s gossip requirements – so the paper sells well.
Awful and disgusting as it per se, it becomes a mean and evil scandal when the center of attention is one of the nicest and most decent persons I’ve ever met. Dorothee
I was outraged and saddened to read of Yuvraj’s behaviour towards Onir. If Yuvraj’s film Dunno Y had done well, I guess he would not have felt the need to resort to this–and that says it all. Sincere apologies for the delay in responding as I’ve been travelling.
Meenakshi