Best yet underrated Indian LGBTQ+ films to educate your parents

What might conservative parents consider even more objectionable than their child marrying someone of the opposite religion? The child is in love with another person of the same sex

Well, as uncommon and unsacred our Indian parents think it is, Maybe movies might help influence and educate them to understand better, after all, actions speak louder than words

So, what better way to celebrate the day than watching some of the best queer-related movies?

It was hard to narrow down a specific list, so we searched high and low to find some of the best yet underrated LGBTQ+ movies that India has to offer. But here you go!!

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga(2019)

If you’re looking out for a mainstream Bollywood film this one might be the one for you. Starring A-listers like Sonam Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Rajkumar Rao, and Juhi Chawla the film follows the path of being quite Bollywood in its ways but modishly adds the angle of the same-sex love between the protagonist and her lover.

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is easy to relate to and makes an emotional impact.

Sweety Chaudhary’s (Sonam) love story is not simple, she has to contend with her enthusiastic and conservative family that wants her to get married. We’re sure many can relate, same-sex or not.

This movie is sensitive, tender, and full of humor-laced melodrama that hinges on the relationship between a lonely, misunderstood small-town Punjab girl and her doting father on her sexual orientation.

Dear Dad(2016)

What if your dad is Gay?

Well, for a film like this in India where our minds and doors are closed to anything that is not considered culturally appropriate a bold film like Dear Dad made quite the statement and a This story revolves around Shivam who was just a simple teenage boy with a normal family when suddenly he and his dad decided to go on a road trip together experiencing many adventures, they develop a strong bond which further result in his Dad’s confession, that he is Gay!

Thinking like a normal teenager Shivam couldn’t withstand this, his reaction was partly incredulous and unaccepting .”Dear Dad” repletes the story with such tenderness and brutality that it truly lets the viewer feel the emotions.

It is not a sad film, but it does tell us it’s okay to be what and who we are.

LOEV(2015)

A simple love story about an unusual loev!

LOEV is an independent film which is not about two gay men in love, love isn’t homo-narrative, it is just love!. Two men Sahil and Jay who do not talk about their sexuality are just friends who were just taking a weekend getaway. The story was narrated in such a way that it purposefully leaves all the relationships in the movie ambiguous, leaving its viewer hooked and raising questions.

Many of these questions are answered indirectly in the movie through subtle hints and gestures.

LOEV increases the racial, cultural, and scope of queer cinema that is often specific — white handsome guy, physically fit, and yeah he has to be American.

Geeli Pucchi

Another brilliant short film, Geeli Pucchi, starring ace actors like Konkona Sensharma and Aditi Rao Hydari directed Neeraj Ghaywan’s short film, Geeli Pucchi is a part of the anthology Ajeeb Daastaans. This film revolves around prejudices against caste, gender, and sexuality woven in friendship. The story of a Dalit queer woman Bharti Mondal (Konkona Sensharma) working as a factory labourer who develops emotional attachment with Priya (Aditi Rao Hydari), her Brahmin co-worker.