Is a kiss too risqué? Or the mention of safe sex in a Bollywood love film?  Please. I'd prefer that my dear old mum sit through five minutes of discomfort if it meant that thousands of young audience members learned the value of healthy sex.

In the new film, "Kaminey," passing reference to HIV is mentioned in a song that some are finding too much.  In addition, other features in the film symbolize this message and remind us to think of HIV, including Shahid Kapoor's character, Guddu, wearing the red ribbon around his neck and the inclusion of red backdrops.  Both most likely reflect the red ribbon AIDS awareness campaign.

Finally. We are breaking through our chastely veiled discussions of sexuality and addressing a reality that strikes India. Like it or not, over two million Indians are living with HIV/AIDS.  So I for one am thrilled to see a novel attempt at getting this message into the mainstream, even if it is one song in one film.

According to the World Bank (2008) Indians holds the "common perception that HIV is transmitted predominantly through injecting drug use and sex between men." This is grossly erroneous:  "the overwhelming majority of infections in India occur through heterosexual sex." And consider this: 39% of individuals living with AIDS in India identify as straight, married and in monogamous relationships.  Clearly our "let's not talk about it" attitude isn't working if so many people are monogamous, yet getting infected.

For those of you who don't feel that this is appropriate material, I have a suggestion. Don't go see it.  But consider that if you aren't even comfortable hearing someone else talk about it in mild terms, that there's probably a lot that you don't know. That could protect you. And if you are relying on your "monogamous" spouse to do the right thing, let me refer you again to the preceding paragraph. Go somewhere else for your information if you need to, but go somewhere.  Ignorance may be a comfortable place, but it's not bliss. And given the rampage of HIV on India, we know it's not real. I'm looking forward to taking my mum with me to see this film. And although it may be a bit uncomfortable, I'm also looking forward to our discussion on the ride home.

The appearance of chastity is limited to its primary intent:  Appearance.

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