User Reviews

A few years back I watched The Brokeback Mountain. Those who have seen it will surely agree with me that the film did not speak about gay rights or anything remotely related to it. Instead it was a love story where a man instead of falling in love with a woman falls in love with another man. It was a very poignant tale of love; a love that most people failed to comprehend.

Aligarh made me feel the same. A common gay man tries to come to terms with after being suddenly forced out of the closet. Unlike Brokeback Mountain, this is based on a real story. But the film is like a poetry, that says a lot and leaves even more unsaid, but has a profound impact on the viewer.

Please don't watch this movie if you are expecting anything salacious or controversial. Watch it because when you are old and there is no 377 scare and you see a gay couple pass you by, you would know what they feel like because Professor Siras felt the same.

#Aligarh: Don't you dare watch this movie if homosexuality makes you laugh or mocking like 'gay' makes you feel more macho..

Aligarh is a powerfully sensitive cinema, never ever dared before on the canvas of Bollywood.. Aligarh is like that hot lava cake which will melt you with it's incredible portrayal of a person who is a homosexual, yet an outcast, he is blessed with the notion of love, yet afraid of the society, who is declared an immoral, yet teaches us lessons of morality which no book can..

Manoj Bajpayee has delivered a scintillating performance of a lifetime, which I am sure very few actors can even dream of achieving.. He shivers, he cries, he shouts, he hides like a cat, he loves, he lives.. he inspires.

If India should send one movie to Oscars this year, it has to be Aligarh. 5/5

(Warning: This is a sensitive cinema & watch it with some sensitivity.. Some scenes are too graphic, kind of normal for an average Hollywood lover, but can be a bit shocking for an Indian movie goer. Had a fight with a group of morons who were laughing on some scenes as if the entire morality responsibility has been imposed on them. They had to be forcefully evacuated from the theater, and thankfully, people supported me.)

Hansal Mehta's 'Aligarh' is a lot of things, but firstly, its a Near-Masterpiece. Mehta's Direction captures a true-story, that causes repulsion, anger & sympathy while the narrative flows. This is indeed Powerful Storytelling.

'Aligarh' is The true story of Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, who was suspended from his job because of his sexual orientation.

'Aligarh' is challenging as well as affecting. You watch the protagonist struggle for being who he is. His journey, with great support from a reporter, who befriends him, is quietly devastating. 'Aligarh' is about the devils in our society, about the bigots, the merciless that exist among us. This is an important story, that's been told sensitively.

Apurva Asrani's Screenplay is excellent. Sure, its slow-moving, but the affect it leaves, is brilliant. Mehta's Direction is fabulous. 'Shahid' & now 'Aligarh', Mehta has found his voice in these true-stories & has depicted them with masterful treatment.

'Aligarh' is rested on the shoulders of Manoj Bajpai and Rajkummar Rao. And the SUPREMELY Talented Actors are dueling Brando's here. No Kidding, this is Acting in its purest form. Bajpai's portrayal of Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, is graceful, devastating & a definition in subtlety. You watch a man broken, & his body-language, as well as his soft dialogue-delivery, left me awe-struck. Rao isn't far behind. As Journalist Deepu Sebastian, Rao gets a lesser showy role, but he delivers an effortlessly natural performance, that packs a solid punch. Bajpai & Rao are so committed in their parts, I forgot I was actually watching two actors performing parts. National-Awards, are you hearing? A Special Mention for Ashish Vidyarthi, who enacts the righteous lawyer, extraordinarily.

Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras was questioned for being who is was. The late teacher was found dead in 2010. But, didn't the people around him kill him way before that? Of course, he found friend in a reporter & got further support from a lawyer who screamed for justice, but did the people who respected him for years, eventually respect him? Being Gay isn't Criminal, Being Homophobic is. 'Aligarh' painfully captures a man's secrecy being questioned, ridiculed. Are we really gonna judge people even now for their sexuality? Are we again going to stay silent when our hogwash law criminalises Homosexuality? Are we going to tolerate bigots? My Answer Is NO. What's yours?

Until then, Watch 'Aligarh'.

Aligarh was chosen as the opening film of the Mumbai Film Festival and I went to see it wondering if the story, based on real life events, had been sanitized for the screen. To the screenplay writer and director's credit it has not. The sad story of 64 year old Professor Sirus, who was suspended and systematically harassed by Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for having gay sex with a cycle-rickshaw driver, has been told here in all its poignancy. In it's time, it was a big case for gay rights in India, but Sirus was a frustratingly difficult protagonist, an unattractive personage unwillingly to face the media, unwilling to identify as gay, unable to see the larger issues at stake. Manoj Bajpayee does an excellent job in the complex role of the unhappy Sirus, with all its contradictions. He's shown drinking excessively every night, listening to maudlin Lata Mangeshkar songs. I don't know if Rajkumar Rao is based on a real-life character, but he plays a crucial role as the reporter who tries to draw Sirus out of his shell. He only party succeeds. For one, Sirus was very proud of his position as professor of Marathi at AMU and he was very loyal to AMU itself. He tells Rao he the victim of campus politics because he was promoted to chair the linguistics department, provoking petty jealousies. People knew he was homosexual and used it against him, sending two goons to break into his house to film him having sex. What followed was a downward spiral, but Hansal Mehta somehow manages to keep things from getting too depressing. One interesting scene has the now famous Professor Sirus being invited to a sophisticated gay gathering while in the city, where his newfound fans insist he sing a Marathi song. He does so, rather badly, and then collapses drunk.

Though the story is short and simple but never maker you feel board while watching. One of the most important element of the movie is the acting by the lead actorss ( Manoj sir and Rajkumar Rao ) which will never let you expectation down with the movie. Overall movie was a nice and offered a very serious and not much discussed topic in a brilliant way.

A must see flick! Bajpai has delivered a restrained performance and yet he brings out the innocence and purity of Prof. Siras's soul. The pain and anguish can be seen in his eyes and his attire and body language for a 64 yr man was just too good. this is method acting at its peak! this is a performance even Jack Nicholson, tom hanks or a Daniel Day Lewis would be proud of. his performance will haunt you for long. the direction and screenplay is also brilliant and the way in which the subject was handle has to be appreciated. his soliloquy while listening to Lata Mangeshkar is brilliant. The court scenes and argument were well written and filmed. Rajkumar Rao as journalist has also done justice to his role. the pace has been kept deliberately a little which allows you to get to the skin of characters. the ending though sad leaves an ever lasting impression. All in all one of the great movies of our time!

As his character 'Siras' says that the poetry lies in between the words, in the pauses, to me, true moments of 'Aligarh' lies in between the dialogs, in silence. Manoj Bajpayee, take a bow. Every frame of him is a personification of crumbling, vulnerable and fragile lonely personality.

The movie revolves around the legal battle of revocation of suspension, but there is one moment which sums up the character. In the court room, among the legal arguments, Siras goes into sleep, totally disinterested. What a poignant moment, let you guys fight over legality, morality, but tell me where is my fault. And if that is not your discussion point, I am not interested.

Aligarh picks a take on all known issues and problems in the society regarding homosexuality. The best part is the decency of the storyline in which it has been structured. It has been edited well and flows respectfully. It could've been a wonder if the gripping nature would've been maintained. But often it digresses from the plot and disconnects the viewer.

Wonderfully directed by Hansal Mehta, he takes his sweet time in detailing irrelevant things. Many times it makes sense but only if editing is proper. Nevertheless, the effort is fantastic in getting the whole plot together.

Rajkummar Rao is just not stopping to improve himself with every movie. He has the sense of maintaining the required body language all through. Manoj Bajpayee underplayed a lot too much but delivered a good performance.

Overall, a decent and a respectful take on homosexuality but could've been a wonder if gripping nature would've been maintained.

Absolutely beautiful film.Well made film.Such themes are so hard to come by in Indian films... A must watch film..

In one of the moving scenes towards the end a tired old man fighting for his right and dignity sadly tells his journalist friend, "soch raha hoon main Umrika chale jayun. Udhar mere Jase log chain Se re-he sakte hai". That sentence takes me back to my formative years when different sexual orientations were not openly discussed & acknowledged in the society. It was a time when a slightest trait of homosexuality was ridiculed. With time and experience there's many like me who have evolved and understood what freedom is but sadly a large section of the nation are still cocooned in a regressive time wrap. Aligarh is a poignant critique of such a homophobic invasive society that tries to control the lives of others.

Hansal Mehta should be appreciated for choosing a film on real-life academician Dr Ramchandra Siras who was denied his job in the Aligarh University due to his sexual orientation. They left no-stone unturned to make his life a living nightmare. The film gives a harrowing picture of the grudges of an illogical moss-back community thrown to a sensitive man who was full of love and poetry. Beyond this sensitive issue credit goes to Ishani Banerjee (story) & Apurva Asrani (screenplay) for making a heart warming commentary on loneliness and desire for love. Mehta's film has a certain pace which is in-sync with Dr Siras – calm, soft and poetic and the dialogs add on to the mood. One of my favorite dialogs is when Dr Siras calmly reacts to the word "gay"- "koi mere feeling KO 3 aksharon mien kaise samjah sakte hai". Brilliant!! The courtroom sequences on the issue of moral policing deserves attention. Within my limited understanding of this medium I can confidently say that Manoj Bajpayee's portrayal of the ordeal of the real-life professor shall go down as a landmark performance in the history of Hindi cinema. What a fabulous actor!! Rajkumar Rao is another great talent who gave an able support to Bajpayee.

Like last week's Neerja we got another film on a real-life hero : Dr Siras, a social martyr who fought for a cause - for individual freedom & the right to live one's life respectfully.

If possible please support the film & the cause behind it..

Hansal Mehta's "Aligarh" delineates the story of a Homosexual Man & his innermost struggle to come at terms with his sexual preferences. Amid all the altercations & judging eyes; it exhibits a humane story about passivism & certitude!

"Society does not consist of individuals, but expresses the sum of interrelations, the relations within which these individuals stand." - Karl Marx

Not many films are made on Homosexuality in India. So whenever such films come around; they usually become the talk of the town. Some scream their praises, others may hold onto conservativeness. Over the time, these movies do come to be quintessential in their own rights. Not only for how well the actual enactment might have been but for what it put across in the long term. Especially for the real-life persons belonging to these special communities.

Keeping aside its poignant contribution to the society, storywise it's been laid out in a simplified manner. Based upon a true event, the writing leaned towards a more sensitive and considerate approach! It never gets as intense as I wanted it to be. Although this benign build-up flourished elegantly under immaculate technical prowess & puissant performances!

You simply can't take your eyes off Manoj Bajpai. For the role of a Homosexual Man, he brings quaint tranquility. A soft spoken intellectual who fights against the humiliation he grievously faces on an everyday basis! Rajkummar Rao as Novice journalist plays his part quite efficiently! Albiet I feel, he could have done so much more had he been given a bit more screen time!

To sum it all up, this is indeed a dawdling affair, that might not be everyone's cup of tea yet the purpose it bears through its articulating narration must be upheld at all costs.

Bollywood is definitely evolving experimenting on different and unique subjects. The silver lining is the untold stories of various characters and events which were lost in time is being brought back with sheer devotion and sincerity. January started with a bang releasing the story of evacuation of 1,70,000 Indians from Kuwait in Airlift and February followed with a gallant story of flight attendant rescuing 359 passengers from terrorist-hijacked plane in Neerja. After giving National Award winning film Shahid, Hansal Mehta is back with yet riveting bio-pic drama Aligarh that raises the question on self-righteousness and breaking the barrier.

Aligarh tells the true story in which Manoj Bajpayee plays a homosexual professor Dr Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras at the Aligarh University who is suspended from his job when he is caught in a sting operation.

Last year, it was Manjhi-The Mountain Man, Bajirao Mastani followed by Airlift and Neerja. The best part of watching these biographies is the inspiring and motivating stories which has resulted to outstanding appreciation from both audience and critics. It takes courage and guts to make a film like Aligarh.

The movie opens with a bang giving you goose-bumps. As the movie progress, you will be sucked into the film and the entire credit goes to Hansal Mehta for doing a fantastic research on the event which changed life of Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras. The court room- drama, friendship between Manoj Bajpai and Rajkumar Rao and even the climax sequences are definitely the highlight of the film. Screenplay is engaging. Art direction and cinematography is simple yet powerful. Manoj Bajpai has delivered a solid performance. He fits into the character as if it was tailor-made for him. Rajkumar Rao lends in a good support.

A big thumbs up for brilliant direction, admiring performances and electrifying screenplay.

– Ketan Gupta

Homosexuality is one of the topics not much talked in Hindi Movies. But Hansal Mehta, the director has shown a full courage to portray such subject. Apart from the regular Bollywood Movies, this appears to be extremely different, well directed, and performed. The film claims to be based on the real story of a professor who is a gay and for his sexuality, is suspended from the university. The film deals with his battle to stand against his sexual orientation. The film makes a sharp statement on the issue and gives a brief on the legislation on homosexuality. The dialogues and direction have been very well done. But it's Manoj Bajpayee's performance for which the film is worth a watch. Away from the commercial angle, he puts a life to his character, as a silent professor who's uninterested in what happens around him. Few of his dialogues just put the homosexuals as a class who also want to live their lives as they want and fend for their privacy.

Despite a good performance and good dialogues, the film is not an easy watch. The main reason is its extremely slow pace. The film is not more than a plain narration or a biopic and fails to present an in-depth character study. On the aspect, Oscar nominated "Milk" on a gay right activist was much more memorable as it has a better elaboration and conviction which extremely lacks in "Aligarh." Overall, the specialities of "Aligarh" are its setting and Bajpayi's acting. But the specialities don't outweigh its mediocrity in terms of its slow pace and lack of narrative freshness.

Rating: 2 stars out of 4

Some films cease to be a story or a mere depiction of an incident or an issue. You live them. They mirror the society's mindset and in doing so, rake out your own prejudices. 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.

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. Bajpayee's tearful eyes display an array of emotions — sorrow, vulnerability, angst and fear. Scenes where he is seen reciting poetry in fluent Marathi and being immersed in Lata Mangeshkar's songs all by himself, is work of pure genius. These will go down in history as one of the most soul-stirring cinematic moments.

While Bajpayee drives the film, Rao delivers an equally compelling performance. You look at Siras through his eyes as he shapes your perception of the man. Satya Rai Nagpaul's cinematography and Karan Kulkarni's background score highlight the isolation that haunts Siras. Apurva Asrani's heartfelt writing too, deserves a mention.

"The eyes of others our prisons; their thoughts our cages", this remarkable quote by Virginia Woolf pretty much sums up the film. 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.

When I finished watching the film, I was in a great sense of despair and full of emotions. I literally cried like a child in theater hall. This film does this to me and it was painful yet hopeful to watch the story of a professor in Aligarh University (A.M.U), who is suspended by the AMU for being caught in a sting operation by a local news channel, in which he was in his bed with a rickshaw puller in intimacy position. And he was later suspended on the ground of being homosexual and doing gross conduct (According to the university rules) in the premises of AMU and later he has to evacuate his apartment given by University.

Professor Siras (Played by Manoj Bajpai) is a normal person living his life teaching Marathi literature to kids, sipping alcohol at the end of the day and listening to Lata Mangeshkar songs to ignore is loneliness.

He is a respectable professor and has won Language Literature award By Maharshtra Government in the year 2002 and is the only Marathi language professor in whole university campus and also the chairmen of Language board in A.M.U.

Despite being playing the character of a homosexual professor -Manoj Bajpai never intimate and pretend being a "gay" unlike many other queer characters in many bollywood movies. Writer, director and the actor himself tried not to stereotype the character of a gay person like everyone do. After watching professor Siras on screen, everyone will understand that being gay doesn't mean you have to be gentle and sensitive in nature, or subtle in your gesture and physical appearance. They are also normal human being like us, and it has nothing to do with their subtlety and sensitivity in gesture and body moment.

Manoj Bajpai portrayed Professor Siras as a person: Who loves poetry and literature, and is also a father like figure for example: (When he said the dialogue- "You are a good boy Deepu") in his last conversation with Deepu (Rajkumar Rao) on phone after winning the case. Writer has portrayed the characters and plot of movie so subtle and sweet that it evokes a sense of agony and anguish after watching the struggle of a homosexual person in a city like Aligarh – where in a country like India; having physical intimacy with a same sex in still penalized and considered as criminal in nature and one has to go through several difficulties because of that. RajKumar Rao Character was also very powerful. He played the role of Journalist (Dipu Sebastian) who followed the story of Professor Siras, and evoke the investigation by himself and talk to Siras about the incident happened that night. Rajkumar played Deepus role in his own way- like he use to do.

The connection between Deepu(Rajkumar Rao) and Professor sirus(Manoj Bajpayi) is must to see. The written part of the characters are so originally written it look so mumble-core(as it is a real story, based on true incidents)

The film illustrates the story of 'Siras' so eloquently to audience that one needs to look into the matter and talk about it.

My reason for crying after finishing the movie is because I was moved by the character of the story and relation between a normal reporter and the Professor. Both are unknown but yet compassionate about the discrimination done to a homosexual person. The narrative aspect of the movie moved me so emotionally- that I cried after watching film and it took me into a feeling of despair and anger, because that's a hard reality and truth which prevail in my country, which need to be addressed to end the discrimination.

One needs to watch this film- which raised such a sensitive issue. The issue of homosexuality is still considered as a taboo and an institution like AMU – who produced many scholars. Intellect and PhD holders: considered this topic as unethical and make one life hell by their self moral policing.

One needs to watch this film to understand the pain and sufferings of a community, who suffer these miseries of inequality and discrimination on day to day basis.

Director Hansal Mehta and Script writer Apurva M Asrani has addressed and raised this issue in public forum by making such a beautiful and remarkable film with talented leads like Manoj Bajpai and Raj Kumar Rao. 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. It moved me; so it will do to you.

A circle has been completed... became a fan of manoj bajpai right from the very first day i watched satya eighteen years ago... "mumbai ka King kaun??" the dialogue which made my childhood so special... then came shool... what can i say... according to me it is India's best cop movie and is much much much ahead of gangajal as well and it will always remain so.. after that i thought we have got our first superstar who looks like a common man behaves like a common man but performs like a superstar... but i was wrong... look and behavior mattered in this case... he remained as the most underrated actor of all times.. it is a shame for all of us that such a powerful actor like him remained underrated... anyways.. lets come to the point... the circle has now been completed... i have watched aligarh.. the performance of manoj bajpai is not only spectacular but also the finest i have ever seen... now i can say i can happily forget satya or shool or gangs of wasseypur and live the rest of my life memorizing this epic performance which he has given in this movie... take a bow manoj bajpai... congratulations for the best actor national award... u totally deserve it... :)

I started watching Manoj's movie from gangs of wasseypur he tried different roles and really rocked that roles in this movie also he acted like a legend. the lifestory is really hard hitting you can't take sides in this movie. Overall a eye opening movie.

When the magic of two greats like Manoj Bajpayee and Rajkumar Rao fuses, there's not much left to say.

Aah, the inbuilt poetry of the movie could be well understood by the conversation of Rao and Vajpayee's character: "Poetry is not in words, but in the silences between them.." Likewise, the movie promises so much more than it's narrative. Be it the detailing, layered acting, tragedy or many more for the audience to figure out themselves.

It's rare when a movie captures a human enjoying three minute long song through it's pain.

Is Aligarh an important film? It is. Is its subject important? Very. Are the makers of Aligarh sincere about the subject? No doubt about it. Did I like the movie? No Would I recommend people to watch it? Yes

There must be a huge number of constraints on the Aligarh team to make a movie on such a recent event and on such a taboo and misunderstood subject. I absolutely commend their bravery that they managed to make and get the film released.

Other than seeing amazing Manoj Bajpai in one of his best roles, the movie is extremely unsatisfying for the audience. It is as if even the makers are not sure what they want to convey.

I understand that not everything should be handed to audience on a plate. But Siras is all over the place - full of mixed messages. I did not even care about him that much, which I blame on the writer & director.

What I really wanted was a clear and sensitive message that the human need for love & affection works in the same way, be it straight or gay.

Watch Aligarh for Manoj Bajpai - they would use his performance in film schools forever.

To begin with, Aligarh was released on 26 Feb in India. I get to watch the movie 3 days later. From the trailer it seemed to me the movie where the victim gains justice. Thus the thought of people protesting against the movie (AU), seemed a tough debate, if logic and wise were considered over religion. I however wondered and was against such title… of course till I saw the end of the movie... where I do consider involvement of foul play.

Given the circumstances of victim who is unaware of what's going on in world… the movie seemed sincere. The cast of Manoj Bajpayee does justice to the main characters role, justifying above statement. However his Marathi did made me chuckle. I would say it as movie not meant for everybody, especially if you are an orthodox in nature.

The poetry part where the victim conveys, the poetry is meant for the readers to take out meaning from is simply great. The English poems which were taught to me till I cleared my first board were too difficult. Even reference guides dint help much. If I can go back and tell my teacher's one thing with that regards, it would be the first line of this paragraph and inclusion of simple language.

Yeah I will always stand with the weak, especially if they are right!

Rating: 8.0/10.

It is beautiful in its own ways,in its portrayal of love and moments of love and when siras clicks a picture with Deepu it touches a deep corner of heart where he is crying in its most powerful way,still siras manages to smile on outside. Poignantly beautiful !

India doesn't make many films which talk about someone gay: but this is certainly not the film that comes out on top among them. That credit, out of the films that I've watched, goes to "My Brother Nikhil", itself a middling film. However, Bajpai, the hero of the film, insists, that you people are stuck on labels: so let's not treat the film as gay-themed. The problem is that India makes many fine films otherwise: and then this film suffers a lot by comparison. So, let's leave comparison aside and take the film in itself ...

This film suffers from what I name as the "Parzania" syndrome, named after a much more terrible film, which was ostensibly about a socio- historical issue but which still got nice word of mouth from critics: just because they didn't want to say anything bad about a film that was seen as progressive. Similarly, "Aligarh", though not terrible, is a very middling film, especially considering that its director, Hansal Mehta, makes much finer films than this one. But because it is about a topic not many are comfortable with, it still wins plaudits: but art should not be about propaganda, it should be about art. And as a work of art, this film fails miserably.

Why does it fail? While Bajpai gives a sufficiently good performance (can he even act badly ever?), the otherwise reliable and Mehta's favorite Rajkummar Rao is a complete misfit for the role and his mind doesn't seem to be in the film. To make things worse, the constant close-ups, especially of Bajpai's character, doesn't let the story grip the viewer: the film editing is also quite childish, with cameras panning suddenly to show the "Marathi department" written in Urdu script, or to show some Muslim caps bobbing up and down a bit ... Also, the city of Aligarh itself is not at all seeping into the film: why to call the city that then? And that the story is happening in a conservative city like Aligarh is important to make the viewer feel! Yes, you didn't or couldn't shoot in Aligarh, but if you did shoot in Bareilly, why am I not feeling Uttar Pradesh, at least? Where is the famous railway gate of Aligarh, people waiting there ... and even if things are better working now there, you could still add some. Be still, remember David Lean. Focusing unnecessarily on Bajpai's face while he listens to old Hindi songs doesn't give that stillness; it only makes you pretend to be artsy so those critics who don't feel films will applaud you. But what is the point of making films if you cannot make your viewer feel your story? The point of telling a story is its listener, its audience, not the critic.

I had expected much more from a Manoj Bajpai film directed by Hansal Mehta. But, instead, all I got was pretensions: including two gay men kissing each other. What's the point of those repeated flashbacks? If you don't have enough plot, just set the atmosphere: that in itself is a rewarding experience that cinema can give.