Aligarh releases in theatres tomorrow, but a few reviews of the film are out already. Check out some reviews.
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Aligarh Review by Bollywood Hungama
Rating: 
ALIGARH boasts of a wonderful and heartfelt screenplay Apurva Asrani (who has also written the story). One has to give it to him for handling an extremely sensitive topic in the most sensible manner. The film sees the no holds barred directorial prowess of Hansal Mehta, who has handled the film in an extremely skilful manner. Thanks to his direction, the film gets translated into a mixed bag of emotions such as fearless, captivating, moving and heart-breaking one. While the film has an extremely engaging first half, the second half sees the film losing its grip mainly due to its slow pace and starts looking disjointed. Many things remain unexplained which may confuse the audience.
Aligarh Review by Tushar P Joshi on Bollywood Life
Rating:
Aligarh is more than just a film about gay rights. It documents the human spirit, and the freedom it struggles to sustain despite its oppressive surroundings. Aligarh is a story of hope and innocence in a time when prejudice and judgement substitutes compassion and kindness. Yes, it is also a story of gay rights, but more so it is a tale of human rights. Mehta has used Siras as a metaphor to highlight optimism in a time of a pessimistic environment. There are moments in the film where you feel more than just empathy and compassion for Siras.
Aligarh Review by Sonia Chopra on Sify
Rating:
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.
Aligarh Review by Jaidev Hemmady on Movietalkies
Rating:
Hansal Mehta had delivered a winner with his last film Shahid and Aligarh too deserves a standing ovation. Mehta has taken the story of Siras and made it about human rights and not just about homosexuality, for which, he should be lauded. Moreover, Mehta has done it without getting preachy, which is another feather that he should add to his hat. Aligarh is a true ‘David versus Goliath’ story and has been treated with utmost sincerity and sensitivity. However, this is not to say that the film doesn’t have its faults. The plot moves at a slow pace and the courtroom scenes when Siras challenges the decision of the University to suspend him, are bereft of any intensity or drama (Not that we were expecting some tareekh pe tareekh histrionics, but the court scenes could have been more gripping). Nevertheless, Aligarh is definitely worth a watch for the powerful performances and the sincere treatment of a sensitive story.
Aligarh Review by Sweta Kaushal on Hindustan Times
Rating:
Unlike Bollywood’s stereotype of the loud, floral-loving homosexual, Aligarh champions a very sensitive side of the country’s third gender. Mehta’s unusual hero takes special efforts to emphasise the fact that everyone is entitled to their sexual preference and should enjoy the freedom to love. He defies labels and often tells Deepu that we should stop trying to categorise everything and everyone.
Review by Saibal Chatterjee on NDTVMovies
Rating:
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. The story, an introductory disclaimer asserts, is inspired by real events modified on the basis of related media reports and legal proceedings.
Review by Shubha Shetty-Saha on Mid-Day India
Rating:
Mehta, who earlier gave us the gritty Shahid (2012), is evidently at his best when he brings true stories to life and, in his own way, fights against the injustice meted out to the protagonists. Thankfully, Mehta, for most part, doesn’t get carried away by the emotions attached to such a subject, and presents it as starkly as he can. The only time the script (by Asrani) and the director falter is in a scene where they try to gain respect for the poetic professor’s sexual encounter by calling it ‘love’. As if these men who are rooting for sexual freedom are still not ready to accept sex as just a necessity and not necessarily an act attached to the feelings of the heart. The meandering, slow pace largely works for the film, but sometimes works against it.
Aligarh Review by Indiaglitz
Rating:
The movie is bit slow in its narration and drags in the second half. Many scenes could have been trimmed down as they were perfect for the film festivals but not for the ordinary audience. There are few unconvincing scenes which dilutes the impact of the film, especially in its finale. Also, the movie tends to be bit preachy and repetitive in the second half making it look bit boring at times.
Review by Renuka Vyavahare on The Times Of India
Rating:
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.
Review by Manisha Lakhe on Nowrunning
Rating:
Rajkummar Rao is really good as a gentle but persistent journalist who thinks Professor Siras’s story is more human interest than just a scandal. Ashish Vidyarthi as the lawyer who defends the professor does a wonderful job as well. But there’s only a shrieky woman lawyer and four silent professors who are the all-powerful enemy, and they are weakest link of the movie. Their outraged morality logic does not come across as menacing at all. The fact that they manipulated the system, that they paid the tv crew to do the ‘dirty’, does not come across, rendering the enemy weak. But every flaw goes unnoticed because of Manoj Bajpayee’s superlative performance. He makes you smile, feel elated, lost, alone, and sad and you bring it all back home… hoping some of the ancient laws will change some day soon.
Review by IANS on Zeenews
Rating:
Mounted with moderate production values, Satya Rai Nagpaul’s camera work is steady and remarkable. His frames are realistic. With his wide angle lenses and tight close-ups, he artistically captures the claustrophobic space and the fine nuances of Manoj’s haunting performance. Karan Kulkarni’s soulful background score is well-layered in the narration. There are a few edit jerks in Apurva Asrani’s editing but this could probably be due to censor issues. Overall, Hansal Mehta’s direction touches a raw nerve and makes you embrace the film wholeheartedly.
Review by Shubhra Gupta on Indian Express
Rating:
And it carries ‘Aligarh’, especially when Manoj Bajpayee transcends himself, and gives us a man trying to deal with pain and humiliation with dignity. Rao’s youthful ebullience is an effective counter, his Malayalam- inflected Hindi just right. It is a pleasure to see these actors interact. The newsroom doesn’t feel as real as it should, though (for that, please watch ‘Spotlight’, which gets it spot-on): those portions are off-key. I also missed seeing Siras’s relationship with his students : or, seeing the perfunctory nature of the department of Marathi that Siras heads at the Aligarh Muslim University (everyone in the film carefully leaves out the ‘Muslim’ whenever the name comes up), did he have any to speak of? Did he leave his native Maharashtra to seek refuge in Aligarh? But the film itself is bigger than these things. 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.
Review by Kunal Guha on Mumbai Mirror
Rating:
It’s safe to say, this is one of Manoj Bajpayee’s most challenging roles. Managing a character that has been largely caricatured in Hindi films, he interprets his as one who is restrained and grieves privately. Rajkummar Rao is amiable as an enthusiastic journalist who hopes to establish an unbiased voice in his reportage. Many feel this film stands for gay rights or makes an argument for repealing Section 377 or is a testament of those who endure atrocities on account of their sexual orientation. It is all that but largely, it is a film that documents one man’s struggle to survive, be accepted and find a space for himself in a judgmental non-inclusive society. 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.
Review by Martin D’Souza on Glamsham
Rating:
After his Successful SHAHID, Mehta works his way through another biopic, and although he gets his subject right, not all of his surroundings get things going. It is only the brilliance of Bajpayee that negates all such short-comings. Rajkumar Rao’s character as a reporter from Indian Post is not well-defined; nor is his role in his organization. He is shown as the ‘ticker man’ when it is now a redundant post, done away with ever since computers and the internet invaded our lives. Tickers or news inputs from different agencies (PTI, UNI, AFP, Reuters) would be handled by a clerk who would give the respective copies to the various departments (Sports, Politics, Business, Crime…). Just like proof readers are done away with, so are the ‘ticker guys’.
Review by Sarita A Tanwar on DNA India
Rating:
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.
Review by Suhani Singh on India Today
Rating:
What makes Aligarh a must-watch is that in Siras audiences are treated to a character who breaks all the Bollywood stereotypes of being gay. He isn’t the lecherous sort dressed in garish outfits, but a dignified, educated man. He is a recluse who is brought alive beautifully by Bajpayee. Siras is a far cry from the colourful characters that made Bajpayee a household name. Bajpayee’s soft delivery, his silences, his eyes, his measured movements deftly convey the character’s pathos, his yearning for solitude, his mounting troubles and fears. It’s that rare, restrained performance that Bajpayee will be remembered for.
Review by Mehul S Thakkar on Deccan Chronicle
Rating:
Rajkummar Rao who plays the role of a journalist (Deepu) is mediocre and is same like he has been in his earlier films. He had so much scope to shine but it is an opportunity wasted. Cinematography Satya Ray Nagpaul is commendable bringing out the real essence of the life of the professor the way he has shot it. Sound design by Mandar Kulkarni works keeping in mind the mood of the film. Manoj Bajpayee proves again that he can mould himself into any character and entertain the audience.
Review by Sukanya Verma on Rediff
Rating:
Mehta shoots Aligarh’s nights in hues of honey-yellow even as days are filled with scenes of dusty streets, dilapidated flax yellow walls and kitschy upholstery that finds a lot of love in small-town abodes. The pace is unhurried, the background score is minimal, and Aligarh’s mood is often dry or distant. And that’s why the fleeting comedy around Rao’s landlady appears like scenes from another movie. 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.
Review by Rajeev Masand on IBNLive
Rating:
Aligarh is an important film, and it’s powered by sensitive writing, nuanced direction, and masterful performances from its central players. The image of Siras, a grown man blushing when he’s described as handsome, or when a gathering of gay men hail his poetry, stays with you long after you’ve watched the film. Its deliberate pace occasionally makes you restless, and you long to know more about Siras than the plot lets you in on. What kind of professor was he? Did he have any friends? How did his ‘shaming’ impact his family in Nagpur? Crucially though, the tragic climax never pierces you in the manner that it ought to. The emotional wallop is missing. Mehta eschews melodrama throughout the film, but in blunting this key moment in Siras’ story, the filmmakers deny the viewer a chance to bring one’s feelings to a boil. Sometimes a good cry is a way of saying I care.
Review by Meeta on Wogma
Rating:
Rajkummar Rao does brilliantly to bring this through too. His performance is almost taken for granted because of the meek and subdued character Manoj Bajpai plays with such elegance. You know the blushing, nervous, anxious, angry, lonely facets of boring Prof. Siras because – Manoj Bajpai.
Average critic ratings of other movies released in 2015 – 2016
- Neerja – 4 stars
- LoveShhuda – 2 stars
- Ishq Forever – 1.4 stars
- Fitoor – 2.3 stars
- Sanam Re – 1.6 stars
- Ghayal Once Again – 2.4 stars
- Sanam Teri Kasam – 1.6 stars
- Saala Khadoos – 2.6 stars
- Mastizaade – 1 stars
- Airlift – 3.7 stars
- Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3 – 1 stars
- Wazir – 2.5 stars
- Dilwale – 2.5 stars
- Bajirao Mastani – 3.2 stars
- Hate Story 3 – 1.7 stars
@Balika badhu…. like, love and Sex r different things bro… have u ever thought of having sex with ur sister or brother, no na, why ? Don’t change ur track….
Liking, loving parents, brothers and Sisters are different topic.
@The Phenom, and Films like Maya mem saab, english babu desi mem (Semi Porn Films) r for u….
@Yuvraj
Please dont drag Yoga into this. Baba Ramdev says this stupid shit coz he needs publicity. I have been practising yoga for more than 5 years, nowhere does it say, it ‘cures’ homosexuality.
People blabbering shit should really know what they are talking about. Too stupid to even think homosexuality is a disease!
Poor casting- Queen n Kjo should have been in it to give it more credibility n authenticity…!
@challa The Real Chuha
Dont do yoga nor watch prdp but do watch this movie n just imagine how much better it would have been if your SRK was in it…!
My thought on homosexuality
As a parent I dont want my kids to know about it so for me I dont want it promoted anywhere in society. Thats my official public stance.
Privately though I say each to their own n what the kShitij srivastavas, aNIPUNma Kumars, spamzone n complan boys of this world do behind closed doors is their business…!
@yuvraj
Brave of you to be so open but I say if its not harming you or the ppl involved then let them be happy n be content my friend…!
@The Phenomenal Idiot
Dont watch bhais movies as we wouldnt want you to enjoy yourself but depress yourself by watching Brokeback Mountain as it was the 1 perfect movie that could have launched your Queen in Hollywood…!
To all stupids, why should we accept something that is wrong..?? That is against the natural order of life…??
You are saying that it is just stupid mentality but america also was against homosexuals until few years ago…Just because some people accept it doesn’t mean it is right..It is a disease and from what I know, there have been medicine to cure it….And it is against all religions also so then there is no point of living….Religion is one fixed point in all our lives and we should not change it just because people say otherwise…
I would thank God that I am a straight man
And it is proven that different substances can give rise to homosexuality including eating pig meat…
@Balika Bad-hu, there are different kinds of love..A person does not love his mother the same way he loves his wife and vice versa..>Just because someone loves his father doesn’t mean he is bisexual….That is concerning their sexual desires and such…
Its sad that people like yuvraj here have such sick mentalities. You call that a ‘ mental illness’. WOW. This is the reason the country is not totally open to homosexuality (although there are changes, but its a pity that there are many people like yuvraj who share such a mentality.)
Just one question to you @yuvraj- what if someone you knew or your closest friend was a homosexual? Will you have the same mentality? I can say this because a really close friend of mine is a homosexual and IM PROUD OF HIM. I don’t think he’s different from others and definitely not ‘mentally sick’ as you are saying.
@ yuvraj- I hope you were just fooling around but if you were serious about that, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.
Can’t tell if Yuvraj is trolling or serious. It’s this type of regressive thinking that will never make India advance. Year of research has shown that homosexuality is not a mental illness but I guess since this user says so, it must be true *sarcasm*. If a gay person watches PRDP, they will not turn straight (they may lose a few billion brain cells though). Being gay is not a choice, otherwise nobody would decide to be gay so they can fit in with society. I strongly suggest you watch Aligarh, so that you can gain some perspective.
Those who are taking sides of homosexuals and talking about human rights I have just two questions for you:
1. what if you find out your wife is a lesbian and has been sexually involved with your daughter. Would you respect her right of being gay or would you think she’s mentally upset?
2. A female spider kills the male spider after intercourse. Do you think human beings should do the same in the name of nature?
Don’t promote stupidity in movies and respect all the religions. The religions are here to teach people how to be ethical and how to spend their lives. All the propaganda is being created just to malign religion and promote unnatural attributes in human beings.
homosexuality may be a great thing in metro cities in india but we small town and villager are always against this thing. i mean when these homosexual don’t get partner they can sex with child or any other easy target so they are like jombies for me. i saved myself from a homo during my childhood. i woke when he start unzip my pain and i went to my parents and told them what he was doing.
@Yuvraj, you are free to express your opinion, but the first thing you need to understand is, a person’s sexuality or what they do behind closed doors is none of anyone else’s business. They have the right to lead their life the way they want to. Express freely, but don’t force your opinion on others or degrade them.
those who made fun of my comment you should go mental asylm becuse if there is law then there is reason for this law.
Homosexuality is a sin in the sight of the Almighty God. God created man for a woman. Not another man. He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of homosexuality. It is not a disease but the act of a perverted mind. He teaches that in the last days men shall become lovers of themselves and when they do this He gives them over to a perverted mine. People make the choice to disobey what they were created to me. Let me be a little blunt here and day God created man’s penis for one place and that’s the women vagina, to procreate the human race. Now tell me how can two men or two women achieve this with the same sex. Man chooses to disobey the natural use of the woman to satisfy his own lust. Don’t ever think its a disease it is nothing more than a direct sin against what God created man for. And bear in mind disobedience is as the sin of witchcraft. God judgment will fall again just as He destroyed two cities. The heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked. It’s boils down to choice.
@yuvraj. get well soon.
I neither support homos nor hate them. Personally, I dont like it.
They are human beings. We should let them live the way they want.
@Challa, on the funny note, why do you guys discriminate SRK on these issues. For examples, he likes to sleep with KJo.. Let him do. Why do you say he doesn’t do it? What’s wrong in it?
He kissed British actor John Barrowman. Why do you say he didn’t do it? What’s wrong in it?
He is comfortable in doing gay scenes in films. Why do you say he is? What’s wrong in it?
You refers to many SRKians..
If u guys don’t want 2 accept d truth den its pretty cool
But why u guys always put religion n gods into every matter. What’s wrong with u guys? Its a free country any 1 can live their live with personal choice. Who we r 2 judge others ?
They r not killing any 1 or abuse others , so what’s d problem man.
Let them live n #Peace
@BajanIndian.. Can you prove god exists in the first place and that he has created us?? What if there is no god?? Even if he’s there.. what if he wants something other then what is written in these so called books that only claim to be word of god without any proof.
@indicine- ok. my object to those homosexuals who force childrens and others not to all homosexuals. if they do marry i have no object.
Some pro-homosexuality are also going to be perverts and extremists. OK, it is extreme not to give rights to the homosexual people.
But tell me how on earth ‘Not Supporting’ Homo will prevent ‘India’ from advancing. How earth will ‘Supporting Homo’ help India to advance?
Many times, homosexuality is by choice talking of experinces in our society. A straight man becomes a homo or gay when he associates with other homos.
A gay man sometimes becomes straight and gets married to a woman and have children. Many times, it happens.
These cases are by choices and due to influences of the environment and foreign ideologies.
@yuvraj….very well said bro….homosexuality is a disease which has to be cure….its not at all accepted in our indian culture….those who r with homosexuality in this comment section are the homosexual only and they r sick….
i dont think any religion promotes homosexuality…. its not written in any of the holy book……so those who r supporting these homosexuality then they r disrespecting their religion and their holy book…..so i have question to u all that if this homosexuality is allowed and our gods (different religions) have given a green signal to this then iam with homosexuality…. but any one plz which god supports homosexuality?……. even devil like raavan wants sita but not lord ram…..its western culture who is spoiling our culture…. its not a modernization but a barbaadi for all of us…plz try to understand…homosexuality will destroy us…
@neeraj – i wanna share my personal opinion about god, people made god when they started thinking about life. fire may be first god for them because it helped them from dangerous animals that’s why we can find in vedik dharm of india they mainly pray to fire, water, air other nature powers. those who talking that god create man etc i have a question who made god? what is the reason he made us? if he made us then he destroy all bad things but if he can destroy why he makes bad peoples and if he made bad peoples why he judge bad people and good peoples then decide which one will go to hell and which one go to haven.i believe in nature so from birth its my believe this nature is god for me and its my religion to keep nature pure as i can.
@Neeraj, in the same vein, can you prove or substantially claim that God doesn’t exist? If you can, how??
The subject ‘God’ is subjective. Let other people who believe in God say from their God’s point view. Fair and Square!!!
@Sam. Your wife having sex with your daughter doesn’t make her a lesbian. It makes her a pedophile. Gay people are not pedophiles. And what does your second point even mean? Why are you comparing humans to animals? It has no connection to homosexuality at all. If a woman did that to her husband, it would make her a killer not a lesbian, once again. But just for your information, homosexuality does run even in animals.
@Sam
What a joke! You seem to have watched too many crap sex comedies i guess. Lesbians & gays arent sex hungry monster. They are real people. About your dumb, moronic questions, firstly, nobody will respect a mother who sleeps with her daughter. Most importantly, this will be an impossible scenario coz if your wife is lesbian I dont think you would be able to have kids. Your question goes for a toss over here (unless you force your wife to habe kids. Well that’s called martial rape in case you are ignorant)
Secondly, you use religion to defend your homophobia. LOL. Btw, which religion is right? We have millions of Gods on Earth. Every belief has a different perspective towards homosexuality. If your religion doesnt permit it, then keep that with you dont go around bashing people for how they are born.
I hope your tiny brain can comprehend what I just wrote. Of course, I am pretty sure you wont even bother reading it. Either you’ll skip it or start bashing.
Nothing new.