Aligarh- a class apart movie backed with simplicity and emotionally riveting
Unlike the previous Friday, once again you have another busy day on 26th February 2016. A slew of movies are releasing on this day, which certainly include the one called Aligarh based on the life of a linguist and author called Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras who was suspended from his job at Aligarh Muslim University due to his sexual orientation. After expelled from his job, he was found dead in his place in suspicious conditions. His character is being played by Manoj Bajpayee, while Rajkummar Rao plays the character of a journalist in it. The film is directed by Hansal Mehta and is produced under the banner of Eros Entertainment; 20th Busan International Film Festival in South Korea and 59th BFI London Film Festival wherein it received rave reviews for the same.
The Plot
The film has an obvious story, which showcases the life of a controversial professor of Marathi from Aligarh Muslim University. The film is set up in the city of UP called Aligarh, which revolves around the life of the professor called Ramachandra Siras, one fine day he is sacked from the position of Reader and Chair of Modern Indian Language for the charges of Homofierce desire. A sting operation was carried out when he was seen embracing a rickshaw puller at his home inside the campus. The next day he was suspended from the university and at the same time his film was given to the media to report the incident, which brings in the journalist called Deepu Sebastin played by Rajkummar Rao. He then convinced his editor not to disclose the story to society as it is more of a human interest story than a sensational report. At the same time, the professor with the help of the journalist files a court and wins the case as the law doesn’t discriminate people on the issue of sexual orientation. So what happens next, will he be entertained by the university considering his sexual orientation is an interesting thing to explore?
Script Analysis
The film has smartly sucked the audience into the character’s nuances. The professor is seen enjoying the songs of Lata Mangeshkar wherein you can realize the intensity of the film and so the scenes since this is the very juncture wherein he is seen himself, holed up at his place without any kind of fear of any judgment. The other gem of the film can be called as the poem of the professor, which has enough of the deep meaning in it about his life. The film has more to speak about the silences than the dialogues, which is the USP of the script that can appeal the audience.
Star Performances
No doubt the actor is a good actor and once again he has proved his dexterity over the silver screen giving a spellbound performance. The shades of emotions he has on his face while playing the character is incredible. The love scene is incredible, which he has played with great courage and professionalism. On the other side, you have Rajkummar Rao playing the role of a journalist who has also done a decent job, he is seen picking up the right accent to make the character realistic giving one of the best emotional scene at the climax. And lastly, Ashish Vidyarthi has once again played the best character making him a perfect fit the lawyer’s role in it.
Direction, Music and other Technical elements
The director has attempted to show the darker side of the university, which was once upon a time known to cater scientific approach to Indian Muslim Students in particular, seems to have lost in the present times. Now, you find people like Siras being bogged down dragged down to dirt if they are found with issues like these. Their privacy is invaded and they are brought out to the roads falling down to the mudslinging activities. Ironically the university doesn’t even care to refer the similar kind of case of Delhi High Court of 2009 before taking action against the professor. The director was successful in portaying these elements in the best ways, which was translated the best. The music and other elements seem to be okay, which has helped the film’s entertainment value.
Aligarh – The Last Word
The film Aligarh can be called as an experience more than a movie. This is because it will compel you to think about the plight about the people falling in the community of LGBT. The film is backed by noteworthy performance by Manoj Bajpayee, backed by other cool performances and good direction, making the film to earn a decent rating.
Rating – 3.5
