Aligarh

Lost and Found

Hansal Mehta’s Aligarh is based on the real-life story of the Aligarh University professor who was persecuted and laid-off for his sexual orientation and translates as a heart-breaking story of discrimination. When a local news channel manages to shoot this professor allegedly having sex with a rickshaw puller, he’s singled out and ostracised and eventually, compelled to consider extreme measures.

Headlined by Manoj Bajpayee, who plays the wronged academic and Rajkummar Rao, who plays a journalist hopeful of getting to the bottom of the affair, Aligarh is a telling portrait of homophobia and a society that is blatantly intolerant of sexual minorities.

The film also draws a compelling account of loneliness and how those who must fend for themselves get by with little help or support. But what really shines through in this film is Bajpayee’s ability to slip into his character with such immersion that you can weigh in on his thoughts and feelings in almost every single frame.

Mehta’s immersive narrative and style of storytelling allow us a ringside view of the proceedings without manipulating how we process or accept this story. Aligarh is surely one of Mehta’s most compelling works, along with Citylight and Shahid.

Some may feel that this film speaks for those who are routinely marginalised on account of their sexuality and makes a case for being more inclusive. But Aligarh also documents a man’s struggle to survive and be accepted for who he is, at a point when his right to have a private life has been violated.

If you haven't watched this gem do so now on OTT. It is streaming now on Eros Now, Zee5, Aitel tv, Jio

Alright, that's the end of this podcast OTTplay Lost and Found, I shall be back again with a brand new film critically acclaimed but lesser-known, until then it’s your host Nikhil signing out.

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