Cinema in India has undergone a sea change over the years just like our society did. Several movies revolving around the LGBTQ+ community have been made, but some films that got the representation right. This Pride month, these Bollywood movies should be on your watch list.
Fire | 1996
Deepa Mehta's 'Fire' was way ahead of the trend. The 1996 film was the first Indie film to explore same-sex relationships in Indian society. The Indo-Canadian drama starring Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi told the story of sisters-in-law, Sita and Radha whose husbands choose mistresses over their wives. Abandonment of sorts led them to form an intimate, passionate bond. The film came as a culture shock and was opposed vehemently across the country, with movie theatres being vandalised. But after an uproar from feminist organisations, the film was cleared without any trouble.
My Brother Nikhil | 2005
Set in Goa in the late-90s, 'My Brother Nikhil' is inspired by a real-life story. Swimming champion Nikhil played by Sanjay Suri is diagnosed with HIV and on finding out that he is also gay, an array of insults follows from his parents and friends. Featuring Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Suri and Purab Kohli in the lead roles, the film had a dignified take on the stigma surrounding HIV and homosexuality.
Margarita With A Straw | 2014
Directed by Shonali Bose, 'Margarita With A Straw' tells the story of a differently-abled woman exploring her sexual identity. The film stars Kalki Koechlin as Laila, a talented writer and musician suffering from cerebral palsy. Her same-sex relationship with a blind Pakistani girl played by Sayani Gupta forms the emotional crux of this brave love story. However, Laila’s journey from being a protected teenager in Delhi to a liberated woman in New York, discovering her sexual orientation is what makes this film, worth a watch.
Aligarh | 2015
Hansal Mehta's 2015 film 'Aligarh' was based on the true story of Ramchandra Siras played by Manoj Bajpayee, a professor at Aligarh Muslim University who was filmed having sex with a rickshaw-puller at his house in a sting operation done by local media. The incident ended up changing his life forever, as he was sacked by his university amid ridicule from society. He then retreated into a shell till a journalist named Deepu Sebastian played by Rajkummar Rao learns about his story and comes forward to help. The film received a standing ovation at the 20th Busan International Film Festival.
Kapoor & Sons | 2016
'Kapoor & Sons’ revolved around a dysfunctional family who are always at loggerheads with each other but also love each other more than anything in the world. But amid all this, the film stood out from a sea of other Bollywood offerings that stereotyped homosexuality, by having a gay character played by Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. The film also stars Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra and Rishi Kapoor in lead roles.
Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga | 2019
Starring Sonam Kapoor & Rajkumar Rao in lead roles, 'Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga' tells the story of a regular north Indian Punjabi family, where the concept of homosexuality is still taboo. All hell breaks loose in the household after the family is convinced that Sweety played by Sonam is in love with a Muslim guy played by Rajkummar. The twist comes when Sweety confesses that she is in love with a girl. In this film, Sonam Kapoor, played a lesbian character, which was a first for a mainstream Bollywood film.
Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan | 2020
'Shubh Mangal Zyada Savadhan', which released in 2020, used humour to sensitively showcase same-sex relationships on the silver screen. The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Jitendra Kumar as a gay couple, trying to win over each other’s family. The film has a scene where Ayushmann can be wearing the LGBTQ flag as a cape, a symbol for many queer people, to make a point about how parental opposition to consensual same-sex love is like a disease. Directed by Hitesh Kewalya, the film embraces the LGBTQ community and celebrates queer love.