June has been chosen as Pride Month in honor of the Stonewall riots – an uprising that turned the tables like never before. The streets of New York City in June of 1969 witnessed the LGBTQ+ community fight back, making their voices heard. It all began when the police raided a gay bar, but instead of hiding in fear, the city’s LGBTQ+ community decided to fight back. The uprising of that day was the start of a new revolution that paved the way to a spirit of rebellion that resonates to this day! Although things are slowly changing, we still haven’t completely abolished the taboo and stigma associated with the LGBTQ+ community.
Therefore, it’s important that we all stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters by making efforts to understand and support them. This pride month, we can get a glimpse into their world by watching these powerful movies that illustrate their struggles. Here are five LGBTQ+-themed films you can’t afford to miss:
1. Aligarh (2015)
Aligarh is a true story based on the life of professor Ramchandra Siras. This story will chill you to the bones and make you angry about the injustice that this man and several other people of the LGBTQ+ community face. Manoj Bajpayee plays the character of professor Ramchandra Siras. The story is about the tragic turn of events that ensues the professor’s life after he is unjustly outed to the world. A chairman and part of the esteemed Aligarh Muslim University, his life took a one-eighty when a local news channel ambushed his home and caught him in a compromising position with an auto-rickshaw driver. Things only go downhill from there, and the little support he gets is from a journalist, Deepu Sebastian (played by Rajkummar Rao). Everyone at some point should watch this movie!
2. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Image: Indian Express
We won’t be doing justice to this list if we don’t mention Brokeback Mountain! Starring two of the best, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, it is a neo-western drama film highlighting the unconventional romance of two shepherd boys. What starts as friendship soon develops into something more. Both the main characters, Jake Twist (Gyllenhaal) and Ennis Del Mar (Ledger), end up marrying two women, but that doesn’t put a pause on their intimate relationship with each other. Tragedy then strikes — watch the movie to know how it ends for all!
3. Fire (1996)
Image: Indian Express
Directed by Deepa Mehta, Fire is the story of two women. It explores the loveless marriage with their respective husbands and the feelings the two women develop for each other. Nandita Das plays Sita, and Shabana Azmi plays the character of Radha. It’s safe to say that the two actresses did a spectacular job in portraying their characters. The former, Sita, is married to Jatin, who turns out to be unfaithful and authoritarian. Ashok, Radha’s husband, doesn’t believe in getting intimate with his wife. The two women soon become friends, and eventually, lovers. You cannot miss this movie — you’ll love the storyline as well as the acting!
4. Carol (2015)
Image: Daily Mail
This wonderful romantic drama period film is based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith, called “The Price Of Salt”. The story is set in the 1950s, and it highlights the stigma associated with the love and intimacy between two women, particularly at that time. Cate Blanchett plays the role of Carol, who is in a loveless marriage. A wealthy socialite, Carol comes across Therese, who is a young salesgirl. Rooney Mara plays the role of Therese. The two decide to take matters into their own hands, despite what society expects of them. A beautiful story with a beautiful ending; you’ll definitely find yourself rooting for the two lovers at the end of it!
5. My Brother Nikhil (2005)
Image: Business Standard
People from the LGBTQ+ community have been ostracized and discriminated against by most people in the society. But, perhaps, what hurts the most is when their own family members turn against them. This movie revolves around the life of Nikhil Kapoor, played by Sanjay Suri. Nikhil is a state champion swimmer whose life is turned upside down when he gets diagnosed with HIV AIDS. While everyone turns against him, his boyfriend Nigel (Purab Kohli) and sister Anamika (Juhi Chawla), stand strong and support him in his ordeal. Back then, people diagnosed with AIDS were forced to be isolated and even arrested. The movie showcases the unfairness of it all.
Clouded by the stigma and bias attached to the LGBTQ+ community, people often forget to be humans. It is unfair to witness the pain and struggles merely because of a person’s orientation and gender. It’s time to turn things around. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
