June is marked as a time to observe and admire the struggles and challenges faced by the queer community. This one-month-long celebration aims to spread awareness and extend the acceptance of LGBTQIA+. Indian films have changed over the years in portraying queer community. These films not only represent the queer community but celebrate their resilience, love and quest for acceptance.
Here are ten Indian movies that discussed subjects sorrounding the lives and struggles of sexual minorities.
1. Deshadanakili Karayarilla
Language: Malayalam
Director: Padmarajan
Padmarajan, is mainly known for his scripts that travel ahead of time. The film was released at a time when homosexual relationships were not acknowledged socially. It revolves around two teenage girls, Nirmala and Sally, played by Karthika and Shari, respectively. The movie explores the life of these teenagers who don’t have anyone to trust or guide them regarding their sexual identity.
2. Kapoor and Sons
Language: Hindi
Director: Shakun Batra
The director represents Rahul (played by Fawad Khan), the elder son in the family, as mature and responsible. But the family can’t come to terms with reality when his sexual identity is revealed. The film shows how Indian family deals with their child’s sexuality and the dramas that follow. Kapoor and Sons can be considered as one of the first films made in Bollywood that represents queer community without any stereotypes.
3. Kaathal- The Core
Language: Malayalam
Director: Jeo Baby
The drama focuses on the life of a bank manager, Mathew Devassy (Mammootty), and how his life is disturbed when his wife (Jyotika) files for divorce. The film shows the life of people who are still forced to hide their sexual identity and live according to societal stereotypes. Kaathal- The Core suggests it is never too late to open your mind and accept yourself. The title of the film shows breaking the shell of a loveless marriage and finding the core, which is the main character’s homosexual identity.
4. Aalorukkam
Language: Malayalam
Director: V. C. Abhilash
The movie is the story of a father named Pappu Pisharadi (Indrans), who waits for his long-lost son to return. But when he finally finds himn, he can’t come to terms with the fact that his son has undergone gender reassignment surgery. Also, his son, now Priyanka, has a partner, and an adopted child. Aalorukkam tries to show that LGBTQ+ community members wish to lead normal lives like everyone.
5. Mumbai Police
Language: Malayalam
Director: Rosshan Andrrews
This crime drama unfolds the story of a gay police officer, ACP Antony Moses (led by Prithviraj), who betrays friendship to avoid societal backlash. When released, the movie was considered not family-friendly, but later, the role played by Prithviraj was appreciated. One of the finest investigative thrillers made in Malayalam to date, Mumbai Police is a must-watch when it comes to movies that break stereotypes.
6. Aligarh
Language: Hindi
Director: Hansal Mehta
The film is based on a real-life incident when Srinivas Ramchandra Siras (played by Manoj Bajpayee) was removed from his chairman position, accusing him of his homosexual identity. What Siras experienced at the Aligarh Muslim University shows the reality faced by a group of people to this day. The negligence and humiliation Siras faces from society is the story of many other in modern India.
7. Moothon
Language: Malayalam
Director: Geethu Mohandas
Moothon is a drama that unfolds the ties of gender identity and love. The film depicts the homosexual romance between Akbar and Amir (played by Nivin Pauly and Roshan Mathew) with its beauty and honesty. Amir is mute in this story, where critics acclaim that his voicelessness can be showing the muted lives led by the queer community. Moothon shows the lives of many people who are marginalised by society and people who are purposefully invisible to the eyes of society.
8. Badhaai Do
Language: Hindi
Director: Harshvardhan Kulkarni
The film shows the lives of Shardul (Rajkumar Rao) and Sumi (Bhumi Padnekar), both part of the LGBTQIA+ community. They decid to get married to each other just for the sake of their family, and then they could continue with their homosexual identity. The movie depicts the life of many people in rural India, where families are still not ready to accept sexual orientations.
9. Super Deluxe
Language: Tamil
Director: Thiagarajan Kumararaja
Super Deluxe is a Tamil anthology that shows gender representation and resets social standards and norms. The subplot discussing the story of Shilpa, played by Vijay Sethupathi, shows the hurdles faced by a transwoman in the society. She was rejected by everyone in the society but accepted by her son. The film shows that changing one's sex is not a betrayal of the family or society, but it is a realisation and acceptance of self.
10. Fire
Language: Hindi
Director: Deepa Mehta
This movie can be considered one of the first movies in India based on the theme of lesbianism. The protagonists of the story, Radha and Sita, are daughters-in-law of the same family, and both were treated miserably in the family. They had a lesbian relationship and used to find comfort in that relationship than with their partners. The movie was released when the topic of homosexuality was forbidden, and it was believed that it would destroy the institution of marriage. Still, the movie questioned age-old practices and attempted to change people’s orthodox perspective.
