Sometimes the LGBTQ community’s feelings are not hurt by open hostility, but by something harder to face: silence. Harm doesn’t always come from direct cruelty – often, it comes from people choosing not to see or engage. In many cultures, especially within traditional families, a person can feel really alone even among people who love them. In his short film A Letter for Tomorrow, Mahesh Menon explores this reality.

Screening as part of the This Is Home programme at the BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2026, the 20-minute film emphasises a multi-generational matriarchal household in India. At its centre are three women – grandmother, mother, and daughter – connected by love yet carrying their own struggles, each facing personal conflicts while trying to understand one another.

The story follows Vidya, played by Gayathrie Shankar (Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, Puriyadha Pudhir, Super Deluxe), a woman who has recently divorced her husband while keeping a truth hidden from her family: she is a lesbian. Vidya’s emotional journey drives the film, and Shankar delivers an excellent performance. Opposite her is Meera, Vidya’s mother, played by Maala Parvathi. A respected school principal forced into early retirement, Meera is herself grappling with an existential crisis – questioning her own place in the world and within her family. The third pillar of the household is Parvathi, the grandmother, portrayed by Rajini Chandy (Game Over and Maara), whose presence subtly supports the film’s narrative. The relationship between the three women feels real, with different emotions constantly overlapping.

A Letter for Tomorrow is also about confrontation; one powerful scene shows a heated argument between Vidya and her mother, revealing the generational tension: the daughter trying to live her truth, and the mother wrestling with love and expectation.

As a viewer, I truly appreciated how the film captures Vidya’s internal struggle – her longing to be understood and accepted. It reflects a reality many LGBTQ+ individuals face: sometimes the greatest conflict isn’t with society at large, but within one’s own home.

The cinematography deserves particular praise; the camera work is intimate and thoughtful. Despite its short runtime, the film feels complete, exploring the nuances of identity and generational change without ever feeling overbearing. Through A Letter for Tomorrow’s narrative, Mahesh Menon reminds us that the most difficult truths are often the most personal ones, spoken only in private.

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Written by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of BFI FLARE

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