Aligarh is an important film, and it’s powered by sensitive writing, nuanced direction, and masterful performances from its central players.

Like in his ‘Shahid’, Hansal Mehta and scriptwriter Apurva Asrani have come up with a lead character and a film which shines with authenticity and emotional heft, which leaves you thinking, and which says something we should all listen to, especially in these times when it has become more imperative than ever before: we can be different, but we are us.

At a time when notions of morality and jingoism are obstructing the ideas of freedom, democracy and individualism, Aligarh is a must-watch. It’s a reminder that freedom of choice can never be less important, and that is what democracy is about.

In Hindi cinema, where homosexuality is an object of derisive gags or caricature, the portrayal Aligarh offers is refreshing and respectful. But it’s much too multifaceted, at times for its own good, to be acknowledged for just that. 

Mehta strips the tragic true story of all vestiges of overt sentimentality. Instead, he fills the depths of the understated but intensely moving drama with genuine, unsettling emotion.

So, in addition to being a portrayal of the gay experience in an unjust and insensitive society, Aligarh is a human drama with universal resonance. It encapsulates the plight of all dissenters.

Hansal Mehta captures the inner turmoil and unrest of Siras in the most understated manner. Most importantly, he gives Manoj Bajpayee the role of a lifetime and the latter infuses soul to his character.

The best part of the film is its utter commitment to Siras’ story. We watched silently while an innocent man was victimised just because he was different from us, that’s just one more reason to watch this film.

Like Shahid, Siras’s fate was also tragic. He was found dead in his apartment, just a few days after he won the legal battle in Allahabad High Court and the day when the University sent a letter reinstating him. Apurva Asrani, screenwriter and also the editor, and Mehta deserve credit for reminding viewers of a forgotten, reluctant and wronged hero who happens to be gay. Their biggest accomplishment is that they have treated him with respect and sensitivity. Qualities we, as a nation, could all do with.

Aligarh is an experience more than a film. I call it an experience because it makes one ponder over their blessed lives and how ignorant we are towards the plight of the LGBT community. It is a gem studded with a noteworthy performance by Manoj Bajpayee.

ALIGARH is a sensitive film which will touch your heart. However, due to its slow pace, it may appeal to a very niche segment of multiplex audiences.

ALIGARH is for a niche audience who love their performances refined. And as far as a performance goes, Bajpayee surprises even himself.

Credit goes to Mehta and writer Apurva Asrani for etching out his character with such precision. Rajkummar Rao, who has successfully adapted the Malayali accent to suit journalist Sebastian’s role, lends good support. The admirable ease with which they relate to each other shows us the magic that can happen when two good actors come together on screen.

Aligarh must be seen for its powerful eschewal of moral judgements of an individual’s private activities. It ends on a question mark on how the professor’s life ended.

We come away haunted and stricken by an inexplicable guilt for what was done to ProfSrinivas Sirus . We come away thinking about the sad sorry life of a good professor who happened to be gay.

A professor of Marathi in Aligarh University is forced to resign after being humiliated for being gay. This is his story, sensitively told and brilliantly delivered by Manoj Bajapyee and supported by Rajkummar Rao.

The performances no doubt constitute the soul of the film, but it’s to the credit of Hansal Mehta and Apurva Asrani that they translate so beautifully on screen. The flashbacks are deployed to stunning effect. Prof Siras’s story isn’t just a fight for gay rights but a triumph of conviction and spirit and for that it is a must watch.

You get instantly drawn to this guy and therefore this film. Sure, the issue it addresses is urgent (homophobia, section 377, right to privacy, etc. etc.). But there is something very deeply unaesthetic about mere activism posing as art. It rarely works. This film does. Because of its very personal, painfully heart-felt writing (Apurva Asrani), first.

‘Aligarh’ excels the level of Indian cinema and is a must watch for all those who love good cinema. It will cater only to a niche audience and might be hard to digest for all those who love soft candy floss types of love stories.

Aligarh needs to be watched. It is serious cinema and you need to be patient with the pace. But if you give into Mehta’s storytelling and let Siras charm you with his innocence then Aligarh will become an instant favourite. A film about human divinity and rights about anything else, Aligarh is high on my recommendation list.

Mehta’s sure-footed storytelling is enhanced by the technical finesse, from the cinematography and editing, to the production design and music.

Watch the film to experience a story that is as searing as it is sensitive. Most crucially, the film ensures that the absurdity of a law criminalizing homosexuality hits home harder than ever.

It is an important film. It is a courageous film even. The film does some things really well. But, it isn’t necessarily an absorbing one.

How one experiences this film mirrors one’s opinions and preconceived notions of alternative sexualities. It’s a film of many firsts. And given how most Hindi movies caricature homosexuals, this one is a reality check.

The striking thing about Aligarh, as with Shahid, is that it doesn’t give in to the temptation of having to make someone else a villain. There is subtle bespeaking of the less-than-noble intentions of the university administration, but there is no scene where they are actively being villainous. The film just doesn’t dwell on them, and spends its time on its protagonist’s story alone. If you finally feel he had been given a bad deal, then the film has registered its success without having to point a finger at anyone.

Wrapped underneath its complexities and hidden subtexts, Aligarh is a simple film about a common man who suffers at the hands of an inconsiderate society. Perhaps, that’s what adds to its universal appeal. Aligarh is a movie that needs to be watched.

Hansal Mehta’s direction touches a raw nerve and makes you embrace the film wholeheartedly.

Hansal Mehta’s direction touches a raw nerve and makes you embrace the film wholeheartedly. Aligarh is based on real life incidents that makes it a compelling watch. The actors have given their career best performances and the story is so touching and inspiring! All in all, Aligarh is a must watch!

Heartbreaking, triumphant, defiant, shocking, Hansal Mehta successfully manages to blow your mind with this heart wrenching film. Manoj, Rajkummar and Apurva all emerge as heroes in their own right. It is one of those rare times when the film wins.

Apurva Asrani’s writing is compelling enough for conversations to finally start on this yet so sensitive subject. Gay rights and more importantly human rights is what it stands for and for that the film should be watch by all who still think that the LGBT minority of the country does not have the right to speak out.
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Mehta creates visuals, moments and lines that stay with you, and he stays loyal to his subject but does not seemingly care for more than a niche audience.

The makers show considerable restraint with their film. It may be a story about hypocrisy, sexuality, intolerance, “coming out” and various relevant causes. But they will do well to remember that, first and foremost, Aligarh is a dignified account of two men who became necessary to each other – before the world (and the jowls of politics and Bollywood) consumed both, the movie, and its inhabitants.