New Delhi: With June being Pride Month, the LGBTQIA+ community around the world is celebrating their rights and culture. The statement ‘Love is Love’ is characterised by a spirit of struggle and acceptance rather than a shameful attitude. In India, the LGBTQ has suffered both physically and emotionally in the past. Though we can’t say that their sufferance has vanished away, it has definitely reduced owing to striking down the repressive Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
Meanwhile, the community has also been stereotyped and mocked in films. However, beyond all judgment and mockery, some outstanding films stood apart in the film industry. Take a look at some of the films that dealt with the LGBTQ community:
1. Fire (1996) – Amazon Prime Video
Directed by Deepa Mehta, the film revolves around two lesbians who are married to men but find affection in one another. The lesbian couple’s roles were played by Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das. As homosexuality was not widely acknowledged or discussed, the movie received quite a stir.
2. My Brother Nikhil (2005) – Zee 5
The story revolves around a state swimming champion Nikhil, who is a gay man. He is in love with Nigel, whom he meets at the party. However, soon Nikhil was diagnosed with HIV. The movie directed by Onir, is one of the first movies focussing on the taboos surrounding AIDS. The film earned positive reviews from critics.
3. Margarita with a Straw (2014) – Netflix
The film narrates the story of Laila, a cerebral palsy woman who comes out as bisexual. She is in a relationship with Khanum, a blind Pakistani-Bangladesh girl. Despite her relationship with Khanum, Laila develops a sexual relationship with a man. The movie is directed Shonali Bose and Laila has been played by Kalki Koechlin and Khanum by Sayani Gupta.
4. Aligarh (2015) – Zee 5, Amazon Prime
The film is based on the true story of Aligarh Muslim University professor Ramchandra Siras, who has been expelled from the university after having consensual sex with a rickshaw driver. Manoj Bajpayee plays the role of Professor Siras while Rajkummar Rao plays the role of a journalist. The film looks down on what gay means for society.
5. Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020) – Amazon Prime
The film focuses on the relationship between homosexual males and the prejudices that come with it. The movie talks about two gay men who are in passionate love with each other. The movie talks about how they confront the family despite the stereotypical thoughts.
