It’s refreshing to watch stories about queer people in the Global South unfold with this much joy and love and excitement. Many films and TV shows will have you believe that it’s all tragedy, and while the queer experience is certainly without its struggles, it seems unfair to hyperfocus on that aspect alone when there’s a lot of tenderness to go around. Rainbow Rishta finds the perfect balance between realism and romance, between strife and pride, in delivering the stories of its subjects. In doing so, it deepens our understanding of the global LGBTQ community. 

The pride! The sheer, unapologetic pride they carry despite living in a country that has yet to recognize, much less tolerate, their union, is admirable. Lesbian couple Aneez and Sanam, for instance, refuse to hide their status from landlords and brokers, even though it makes house hunting ten times harder than if they pretended to just be friends and roommates. “Why should we hide? We deserve to be out too.” It’s this strong-willed dignity and self-love that makes the show both urgent and wholly watchable.