Accused: Two women in love face a dilemma
If my memory serves me right, the last film that I saw on lesbianism was the 1996 Fire, helmed by Deepa Mehta and performed by Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi.
‘Accused’, starring Konkona Sen Sharma and Pratibha Ranta, is set to premiere on Netflix on February 27.
The film follows the story of a woman facing allegations of sexual misconduct while quietly unpacking questions around identity and perception.
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Also Read: Accused trailer shows Konkona Sen Sharma under fire in slow-burn psychological drama
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A research-backed starting point
Speaking to Variety India, writer-director Anubhuti Kashyap said authenticity was central from the very beginning.
She explained that the idea grew directly from the title itself, focusing on what happens when the accused is a woman. According to Kashyap, the team began with detailed research to understand whether such cases exist in reality.
Their findings showed documented instances globally and a few in India as well, which helped shape the narrative foundation. This approach, she said, allowed the story to evolve organically instead of being built around a message.
Why the film avoids tokenism
Kashyap stressed that the makers were clear about one thing, they did not want the film to become a loud statement about sexuality.
She noted that the queer relationship in Accused emerges naturally from the characters’ lives rather than being highlighted as the central talking point.
Treating it as part of the characters’ reality, she believes, helped the film stay grounded and avoid tokenism. For the team, the accusation and its ripple effects remained the emotional core of the story.
Konkona on normalising queer characters
Konkona Sen Sharma echoed the same thought, saying she values stories where queer identities are presented as normal, everyday realities.
The actress shared that people carry multiple identities at once, whether as parents, professionals, or members of different communities. In that context, she believes sexuality should not become the sole defining trait of a character.
In Accused, she pointed out, queerness forms a base layer of the character’s life while the narrative continues to explore many other emotional and social dimensions.
Layered writing adds depth
Pratibha Ranta also credited the film’s writing for keeping the narrative balanced.
She explained that the story primarily tracks how the allegations against Dr. Geetika Singh begin to affect every part of her life, from her career to her personal relationships and family dynamics.
Because multiple layers unfold together, Ranta believes the film steers clear of reductive storytelling and instead presents a more complete human picture.
With its nuanced approach and character-driven focus, Accused aims to spark conversation when it arrives on Netflix this February.
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