Celebrate Pride Month with these 8 movies that you can watch on OTT

Pride Month is upon us, radiating vibrant colours and promoting universal love. Through the years, the queer lens has boldly delved into themes of love, romance, and the beauty of relationships. Hindi cinema has continually echoed these sentiments, sometimes deliberately hitting you over the head and other times presenting light, uncomplicated stories that leave  audiences with warm smiles and fluttering hearts. So, getting on with our most esteemed pick,  let's celebrate love in all its forms and hues by exploring some of the most acclaimed queer films in Bombay cinema.

Geeli Pucchi

Neeraj Ghaywan's Geeli Pucchi, a short film featured in Netflix's anthology Ajeeb Daastaans, is a remarkable exploration of caste, gender, and sexuality. Directed by Ghaywan, known for his critically acclaimed film Masaan, Geeli Pucchi stars Konkona Sensharma and Aditi Rao Hydari in lead roles. The film is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. Sensharma's portrayal of Bharati Mondol, a Dalit queer woman, and Hydari’s role as Priya Sharma, a Brahmin woman, are both worth exploring. The movie is lauded for its exploration of complicated themes through flawed women characters. Streaming on Netflix

Aligarh

Aligarh is a 2015 Indian Hindi-language biographical drama directed by Hansal Mehta and written by Apurva Asrani. The film features Manoj Bajpayee and Rajkummar Rao in lead roles. It had its world premiere at the 20th Busan International Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation. Aligarh follows the true story of Professor Ramchandra Siras, who is suspended and humiliated for his sexual orientation but fights the event that follows with vigour.   Released worldwide on 26 February 2016, Aligarh garnered critical acclaim for its poignant storytelling and powerful performances. Manoj Bajpayee, in particular, received widespread praise and won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ramchandra Siras. Streaming on JioCinema

Fire

Fire is a 1996 Indo-Canadian erotic romantic drama directed by Deepa Mehta and written by her, starring Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das as Radha and Sita respectively. This film is the first installment in Mehta's Elements trilogy, followed by Earth in 1998 and Water in 2005. Loosely based on Ismat Chughtai's 1942 story Lihaaf , Fire is one of the first mainstream Bollywood films to explicitly depict homosexual relationships and the first to feature a lesbian relationship. Upon its 1998 release in India, the film sparked significant controversy and protests, igniting widespread public dialogue on homosexuality and freedom of speech. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

Badhaai Do

Badhaai Do is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, written by Suman Adhikary, Akshat Ghildial, and Kulkarni himself. The film stars Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar, who play Shardul Thakur and Suman Singh, respectively. The story revolves around their marriage of convenience and the ensuing chaos when Suman's girlfriend moves in with them. The film, produced by Junglee Pictures, has received acclaim for its sensitive handling of complex themes and impressive performances. It premiered on Netflix and has won 16 awards and received 26 nominations. Streaming on  Netflix

Chandigarh kare Aashiqui

Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui directed by Abhishek Kapoor and written by Supratik Sen, Tushar Paranjape, and Kapoor stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor in lead roles. Produced by Guy in the Sky Pictures, Skywalk Films, and T-Series Films, the film tells the story of Manu, a Chandigarh-based bodybuilder, who falls in love with Maanvi, a Zumba instructor. Their relationship faces upheaval when Maanvi discloses her transgender identity. Released on December 10, 2021, the movie delves into themes of love and acceptance, earning acclaim for its bold narrative and stellar performances, and grossing $179,863 worldwide. Streaming on Netflix

Margarita with a straw

Margarita with a Straw is a 2014 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Shonali Bose, produced in partnership with Viacom18 Motion Pictures. The movie stars Kalki Koechlin as an Indian teenager with cerebral palsy who moves to America for her undergraduate education. There, she navigates coming of age and explores complex relationships, notably with a blind girl portrayed by Sayani Gupta. Revathi, Kuljeet Singh, and William Moseley play supporting roles. The film, co-written by Bose and Nilesh Maniyar, delves into themes of sexuality, inclusion, self-love, and self-acceptance. It premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, earning critical acclaim and accolades, including awards for Koechlin and Bose. Streaming on Netflix

Cobalt Blue

Cobalt Blue is an Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Sachin Kundalkar, based on his novel. Starring Prateik Babbar, Dr. Neelay Mehendale, and Anjali Sivaraman, it follows siblings Tanay and Anuja who both fall for their enigmatic paying guest. Released on April 2, 2022, after initial delays, the plot delves into the complexities of love, family, and societal norms in 1990s India. It explores themes of loneliness, same-sex love, and breaking free from traditional constraints. Streaming on Netflix

Kapoor and Sons

Kapoor & Sons,is a popular 2016 Indian Hindi-language family drama film directed by Shakun Batra and produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, and Apoorva Mehta under Dharma Productions, with Fox Star Studios serving as distributor and co-producer. The film explores themes of a dysfunctional family and stars Rishi Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra, Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Rajat Kapoor. It follows two estranged brothers who reunite with their dysfunctional family after their grandfather suffers a cardiac arrest. With a budget of ₹280 million, the film grossed ₹1.48 billion worldwide, becoming a blockbuster. It received critical acclaim and multiple awards for its depiction of a queer identity amidst toxic family dynamics. Streaming on Netflix and Prime Video

- Written by Apurva Dutta

Listen to more OTTplay List Hai Toh Hit Hai podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.