How an American reality show is jazzing up the act of Indian drag queens.
Alex Mathew, 29, is yet to clip on his fake black eye-lashes. His friend gives his eyelids a dash of glitter. Tonight, he will be donning the avatar of Maya Sa from Padmavat at KittySu, the nightclub at The LaLit Hotel in New Delhi. In the course of this elaborate make-up session, in one of LaLit’s lavish rooms, Mathew talks about drag culture and his own evolution as a drag performer since 2014. In a brightly lit room, he prepares to share the stage with celebrated American drag queen Willam Belli.
What does it take to be a drag queen? A love for impersonating women, a facility for no-holds barred make-up, the ability to carry fantastical costumes in vertiginous heels, and the most unbreakable kind of confidence. A drag queen is a male performer who is loud in his celebration of femininity, without caricaturing it. “A drag queen does not make fun of women,” says Mathew, referencing acts on TV shows like The Kapil Sharma Show. Neither is it cross-dressing. A drag performer can be 100 per cent straight, though they are regularly mistaken as gay or a transgender person. It is entertainment that is meant to bewilder, titillate and overwhelm with its exaggerated dance, drama and fashion. “Drag does not have anything to do with sexuality. Sexuality is who I am, and drag is what I do,” says Mathew.
Denne historien er fra May 06, 2018-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 06, 2018-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Themes Of Choice
As Savvy Investors Seek New Avenues, Thematic Mutual Funds Are Gaining Popularity
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
