Who doesn’t love all kinds of stories? The representation of queer people has increased a lot in Hindi cinema in the last few years and characters from the LGBTQ+ community are playing the lead roles in many stories, especially on OTT. Today, we bring you 7 LGBTQ movies on Netflix that will surprise you and are worth your time.
7 LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix that will fill your life with colours
1. Margarita with a Straw
– Cast: Kalki Koechlin, Revathi, Sayani Gupta
– IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
– Release Year: 2014
– Genre: Drama, Romance
Margarita with a Straw is one of the most sensitive presentations of a female character suffering from cerebral palsy, who explores her identity, sexuality and independence. Kalki Koechlin plays Laila, a young woman who comes to New York from India for her studies and meets Khanum, a blind activist (played by Sayani Gupta), and their relationship turns into love.
The film excels in highlighting Laila’s internal conflicts and her quest for sexual freedom. It portrays her queer identity in a refreshing and non-judgemental light, breaking the stereotype about people with disabilities being asexual or not interested in intimacy. Watch the film for its beautiful representation of bisexuality, its gentle exploration of love beyond physical limitations, and its phenomenal portrayal of a disabled protagonist.
2. Time out
– Cast: Chirag Malhotra, Pranay Pachauri, Kamya Sharma
– IMDB Rating: 6/10
– Release Year: 2015
– Genre: Music, Family
Time Out is a coming-of-age film that deals with the theme of sibling relationships and the impact of discovering a family member’s sexual orientation. The story revolves around two brothers, Mihir (Chirag Malhotra) and Gaurav (Pranay Pachauri). Gaurav’s revelation that he is gay throws Mihir’s life into turmoil, forcing him to confront his prejudices and emotions.
The film delicately handles the confusion, anger and eventual acceptance that comes with discovering a loved one’s gay identity. The dynamic between the brothers is the heart of the film and perfectly represents everything a gay man goes through in a situation of family conflict.
3. Sunshine worth two paise, rain worth four annas
– Cast: Manisha Koirala, Rajit Kapur, Sanj Nawal
– IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
– Release Year: 2009
– Genre: Drama, Romance
It is an unconventional LGBTQ+ drama directed by Deepti Naval. The film is the story of Juhi (Manisha Koirala), a struggling singer, and her son Kaku, who is disabled. He meets Debu (Rajit Kapoor), a gay lyricist who is dealing with his emotional turmoil after being abandoned by his lover.
The chemistry between Juhi and Debu is not romantic but deeply emotional and based on friendship, which is rare in Indian cinema. Their mutual conflicts bring them together, forming an unconventional family. Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish is a film that focuses more on emotional relationships than romantic ones and highlights the idea of chosen families. It portrays homosexual characters with a lot of maturity and dignity.
4. Congratulate
– Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar, Sheeba Chaddha
– IMDB Rating: 7/10
– Release year: 2022
– Genre: Comedy, Romance
Badhaai Do is a comedy-drama that revolves around the concept of lavender marriage – a marriage of convenience between a gay man Shardul (Rajkummar Rao) and a lesbian woman Suman (Bhumi Pednekar). Both characters come from traditional Indian families, and to avoid social pressure and stigma, they decide to marry each other while continuing their respective relationships in secret.
The film is known for its humorous and heartwarming moments, making a complex issue more accessible to mainstream audiences. Badhaai effectively uses humor to de-stigmatize two homosexual relationships, portraying LGBTQ+ individuals as normal people struggling with societal expectations. It is a refreshing must-watch for anyone interested in LGBTQ+ narratives within the framework of Indian culture.
5. Cobalt Blue
– Cast: Prateik Babbar, Anjali Sivaraman, Neeley Mehendale
– IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
– Release year: 2022
– Genre: Drama, Romance
Cobalt Blue is a fantastic film based on Sachin Kundalkar’s novel of the same name. The film revolves around a brother and sister who fall in love with the same man, played by Prateik Babbar. The film explores themes of desire, identity, and heartbreak in the context of LGBTQ+ relationships.
Cobalt Blue depicts the complexities of gay relationships and unrequited love. It is a slow-paced film that artistically represents the gay community.
6. When I saw a girl, I felt like this
– Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Rajkumar Rao, Juhi Chawla
– IMDB Rating: 5.6/10
– Release Year: 2019
– Genre: Romance, Comedy
As one of the first mainstream Bollywood films to focus on a lesbian relationship, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga broke new ground. The film revolves around Sweety (Sonam Kapoor), who struggles to come out openly about her love for another woman to her conservative Punjabi family. Rajkummar Rao plays Sahil, a playwright who helps Sweety tell her story to her family.
The chemistry between Sonam Kapoor and Regina Cassandra who plays her love interest is subtle but tender. Gay love stories haven’t been mainstreamed in Bollywood yet, so you should watch this as a rare occurrence that is handled with a lot of sensitivity.
7. Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui
– Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Vaani Kapoor
– IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
– Release Year: 2021
– Genre: Romance, Comedy
Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui tackles the sensitive topic of transgender identity in a commercial Bollywood format. The film tells the story of a bodybuilder Manu (Ayushmann Khurrana) who falls in love with Maanvi (Vaani Kapoor) but later learns that she is a trans woman. The chemistry between Ayushmann and Vaani is palpable, with a strong romantic connection.
The film breaks the taboos around transgender identity and relationships while also focusing on the universal theme of love. It is a film that helps bring about some change.
Which is your favourite among these LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix? Tell us @pinkvilla
Also read: 7 Netflix movies about female characters that will blow your mind
