Aligarh Hindi Movie Review

Director:Hansal Mehta

Cast: Manoj Bajpai , Rajkummar Rao , Ashish Vidyarthi

 

Hansal Mehta’s latest directorial venture ‘Aligarh’ is a powerful look at the country’s inherent problem with homosexuality. Based on the real-life story of linguist and author Dr Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, the movie delves into its subject matter with aplomb and makes many other statements that will cause you to question your own assumptions about Indian society’s ridiculous double standards when it comes to love and same-sex love.

Professor Siras (Manoj Bajpai) is the head of the linguistics department at Aligarh University who is charged with homosexuality and suspended from his job. When a reporter Dipu Samuels (Rajkummar Rao) tries to understand Siras, the movie’s subject matter opens up in a beautiful symmetry. Samuels tries to get legal aid for Siras and the context of the year 2010 when the Delhi High Court decriminalised homosexual acts comes to the fore.

Manoj Bajpai delivers a stunning performance as Professor Siras. So involved is Bajpai in his character that you forget who is playing Siras. From the droopy shoulders to the tear-ridden eyes and the inner angst that Siras carries, each and every emotion is captured and played with perfection by Bajpai. This truly is a masterclass in acting from one of Hindi cinema’s most underrated actor. He gets brilliant support from Rajkummar Rao who plays his boisterous counterpart.

‘Aligarh’ has been receiving rave reviews at various film festivals and the reason is clear. Mehta’s understated focus on homosexuality and effective use of metaphors means that the audience is more involved in Prof Siras’ fight than they realise.

In one scene for example, Siras is listening to an old melody in his own house when his reverie is broken by outsiders. His obsession with locks also has meaning. The metaphor goes on to gain strength throughout the movie in which Siras’ innate introverted-ness is challenged by a frenzied class of people who only keen on disturbing his peace of mind.

The film does suffer from certain issues but the actors manage to iron them out without spoiling the screenplay’s fabric. Moreover, in a country where the issue of gay rights is still being fought bitterly, a movie that records their side of the story is positively encouraging. Most people associate gay love as something unnatural and weird and try to justify their abhorrence for it by giving it religious or societal context. But, as Professor Siras’ lawyer asks, “What business do neighbours have to peep into someone else’s bedroom?” What, indeed?

‘Aligarh’ packs power in every punch beginning from the quiet opening scene until its final heartbreaking shot. Do not miss this one