His images feature a fictional couple, whose story he uses to demonstrate the experiences of so many other LGBT people


A photographer has illustrated the hatred and persecution many same-sex couples continue to face in a powerfully haunting series of images documenting the fictional story of a gay couple who are torn apart by society.

In his series, Coming Out, Arjun Kamath, 28, from Bengaluru, India, represents the difficulties many young Indians face when they come out as LGBT. The photographer, who is studying film and TV production in Los Angeles, told Buzzfeed that the injustice faced by LGBT people is an issue that resonates with him.

'I have a few gay friends, and that made me more connected to the issue,' he explained.

Moment of bravery: In his new photo series, Coming Out, Los Angeles-based photographer Arjun Kamathm, 28, illustrates the experience that many LGBT couples go through after coming out

Role of a lifetime: Model Sarah Harish (pictured) plays Maitreyi in the fictional account of two same-sex lovers

Fresh start: In the images Maitreyi helps Alpana, played by Shraddha Srinath, follow her out of the closet and into the freedom of the woods

And for Arjun, the project is about raising awareness and making others realize they are not alone.

'I’ve not tried to preach. People have shown very positive reactions to the series, and have really appreciated it,' he added. 'If I could change just one person’s life, then that’s enough for me.'

Models Sarah Harish and Shraddha Srinath play Maitreyi and Alpana, respectively, in the series of 30 pictures, which focuses on their tragic love story.

In the first few images Maitreyi can be seen opening the door and walking out of a closet in the woods.

Maitreyi then helps Alpana overcome her fears as she bravely follows her out of the closet - knowing that she will never be able to go back.

'I have some gay friends who feel suffocated at having to hide and I wanted to address that; this is why I literalized the metaphorical closet,' Arjun explained to The Quint.

In addition to the images, Arjun shared his narrative of the images on his Facebook page.

'The wildlife held its breath as Alpana embraced Maitreyi; the girls had been in love for the longest time ever,' he wrote of the image showing the young women embracing.

In the following photos, the two are captured holding hands as they trudge through the woods and explore the world around them.

Raising awareness: Arjun explained that he has gay friends who 'feel suffocated' by hiding, and he wanted to address that feeling in his images

No longer fighting it: The two can be seen embracing in the images, and it is revealed that they have been 'in love for the longest time ever'

Work of art: Arjun also wrote a story to go along with the pictures, sharing the fictionalized account on his Facebook page

Another image shows Alpana covering Maitreyi's eyes with a red ribbon as they set off to play a game of hide and seek.

The two look as though they have never been happier as they run through the forest without fear.

They are smiling and laughing, enjoying their freedom in the woods; however, their joy is soon marred after Maitreyi steps on a thorn and collapses in agony.

Alpana is overcome with emotion when she sees Maitreyi fall down in pain. She tries to comfort her lover as she pulls the thorn out of her foot.

It was Alpana's idea to play hide and seek, and she feels guilty that her lover was hurt during while playing a game that she came up with.

She tries to stay strong for Maitreyi, who reminds her that it wasn't her fault.

Another photo shows Maitreyi caressing Alpana's earlobe as she gives her a sensual kiss on the nose.

Arjun then introduces a new character to his picture series. Parivala, who is played by a person named Arvind, sees the couple hugging from afar.

Positive message: The photographer noted that he would be happy if the story of Maitreyi and Alpana can change just one person's life

Whole new world: Maitreyi and Alpana are pictured holding hands as they explore the freedom of the forest around them

Free to roam: 'They walked hand in hand, observing the screeching swallows as they chased whirring dragonflies in a dance of life and death,' Arjun wrote

Support system: The couple cling onto each other as they make the treacherous journey out of the closet

Arjun explained that Parivala also found freedom in the woods just a few days before.

'When she saw the girls embrace each other, her heart was overcome with joy. She observed them from a distance and was glad that they had come out,' he wrote on Facebook.

Another image shows Parivala resting her hand on Maitreyi's head as she gives the couple a blessing before walking away from them.

The next series of pictures show Alpana and Maitreyi in different clothes the next morning.

'It was a new day and the glimmer of hope strengthened with every passing minute,' Arjun wrote of an image of the lovers standing by the water.

Alpana can be seen holding a mirror as Maitreyi fixes her hair. Maitreyi then hugs her from behind and Alpana looks back at her with a look of love in her eyes.

However, their happiness is soon disturbed by the Rakshasas, a type of evil in Hindi mythology.

The Rakshasas were in the forest when they heard the two women laughing; Arjun explained that the Rakshasas came after Maitreyi and Alpana with chains because they believed that the 'only love that was allowed was between man and woman'.

'Maitreyi and Alpana would pay for their sins...' he captioned the image of the two women screaming as they are tied in chains.

Another image shows Maitreyi and Alpana chained by their necks as they are painfully dragged through the same forest that brought them so much peace earlier.

Playful moment: Alpana covers Maitreyi's eyes with a red ribbon as they set off to play a game of hide and seek

Happier than ever: The two are smiling and laughing as they enjoy their new-found sense of comfort in the peaceful forest

Having fun: In this stunning black and white image, Alphan can be seen wishing Maitreyi 'good luck' before they start the game

'The love that brought them together, was the love that tore them apart,' Arjun wrote.

The two are then forced back into the same closet from which they so bravely emerged at the start of the series.

More images then show the Rakshasas lighting the closet on fire while the two women are trapped inside.

'Plumes of black smoke filled the closet and the searing heat slowly made it difficult to breathe; Maitreyi and Alpana held onto each other, their nails almost digging into each others flesh,' Arjun explained.

'All the wonderful moments that they spent together flashed before their eyes as the closet erupted into flames.'

The last photo of the series shows Parivala arriving to the scene, but she is too late. She sobs when she realizes that the couple she had blessed has gone.

Arjun explained to The Quint that he chose photography to tell his store compared to other artistic mediums because he feels that 'photos are more inclusive and accessible'.

'Viewing them requires almost no effort but their emotional impact is huge,' he said. 'When everyone is too busy to watch even an eight minute video, photos reach one and all.'

Arjun also noted that the response has been positive, and he has received messages from people all over the world.

'People told me that for a few brief moments, they felt that somebody had understood them,' he said.

Young and in love: Maitreyi is pictured blindly running toward Alpana as the sun gives the calm forest a magical glow

Golden forest: Alpana laughs as Maitreyi slowly chases her as they walk gleefully past a quite stream

Danger ahead: In their moment of happiness, the two women forget about the dangers that may be lurking ahead, however the photographer draws focus to the hazards that they face, such as this thorny bush

World of hurt: Alpana is pictured trying to comfort Maitreyi after she stepped on a thorn and collapsed in pain

Terrible guilt: Alpana was the one who decided they should play hide and seek, and she is visibly upset as she pulls the thorn out of her lover's foot

Loving touch: Maitreyi can be seen caressing Alpana's ear as she gives her a tender kiss on her nose

Not alone: Parivala (pictured), who is played by a person named Arvind, sees Maitreyi hugging Alpana from afar

Growing community: Arjun wrote on Facebook that the character of Parivala also found freedom in the woods a few days before. She was happy that the couple found their way out of the closet

Hope for the future: Parivala is pictured resting her hand on Maitreyi's head as she gives the couple a blessing as they embrace each other

Growing comfortable: The next pictures in the series show Maitreyi and Alpana in a new change of clothes the next morning

Finding peace: Maitreyi is pictured holding Alpana from behind as she holds a mirror to their faces

Dark omen: While the two women are laughing and enjoying their time alone, there is evil lurking in distance

Danger is coming: The Rakshasas, a type of evil in Hindi mythology, keep their faces covered by red fabric as they emerge from the woods

Please stop: The women scream as they are tied up in chains by the Rakshasas. Arjun explained in his captions that they are being punished for their love

Horrible moment: The Rakshasas drag them away and Arjun wrote that they would be forced to 'pay for their sins'

Personal choice: Arjun said that he chose photography to convey this story because viewing pictures 'requires almost no effort but their emotional impact is huge'

Society's reaction: Maitreyi and Alpana are forced back into the closet that they had so bravely managed to emerge from at the start of the series

Fearing for their lives: Another image shows the Rakshasas lighting the closet on fire while the two women are trapped inside

Tragic story: 'All the wonderful moments that they spent together flashed before their eyes as the closet erupted into flames,' Arjun wrote.