'Aligarh’ is an engaging, captivating, stimulating & compelling movie. Is the movie about homosexuality? No, the movie has a much deeper context coated with the LGBT cause. While the movie peels off its different frames, it speaks about an ordinary person struggling through life helplessly isolated by the society. The big idea behind this film is much more than what is shown, as it leaves you thinking about the issues that are relevant to the contemporary world. Hansal Mehta and scriptwriter Apurva Asrani have correctly framed the emotions & originality of the concept on-screen. You can definitely give it a watch if you are willing to see the contemporary condition that exists amongst the society.
Aligarh is supported by the immense acting prowess of Manoj Bajpayee. Be it the body language, the hint of a Marathi accent or the poetic mind of a professor, Manoj pays attention to the smallest of details. 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.
Aligarh, as pointed and poignant a portrait of loneliness as any that Indian cinema has ever produced, is unwaveringly true to that dictum. Aligarh is equal parts a powerful character study, an incisive social commentary, a tragedy of harrowing proportions and a cautionary parable about a society rife with contradictions. 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.
Aligarh is one such biographical drama that tugs at your heartstrings. While it is melancholic, the film doesn't resort to melodrama to evoke empathy. Aligarh's heart lies in the beauty of its silences and the unspoken words and unrushed emotions shared between its lead characters. While decriminalising homosexuality is an underlying message, the film essentially revolves around companionship and loneliness, reminiscent of Aparna Sen's masterpiece 36 Chowringhee Lane. Aligarh stays with you much after you see it, especially for Bajpayee and his nuanced portrayal of a man brutally put to shame by an intrusive and insensitive society. It's subtlety, redefined.