This year, mainstream Hindi cinema was gifted with Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan which starred Ayushmann Khurrana, Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao in starring roles. The film had its issues, sure, but was a remarkable step in normalising homosexuality and the feminine spirit in a notoriously homophobic and patriarchal country. This comes in the footsteps of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga which starred Sonam Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao in starring roles. Written by Gazal Dhaliwal, the film was lauded for its subtle and sensitive portrayal of the LGBTQIA community in an industry that often mocks and delegitimises them.

If you liked these two movies, you’ll love the ones we’ve catalogued below.

Aligarh

Based on the real-life story of the late Dr Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, a former professor at Aligarh Muslim University and directed by Hansal Mehta, the film stars actors like Manoj Bajpai and Rajkumar Rao. Aligarh was described as “probably the best film yet on the Indian gay male experience” by the British Film Institute.

Arekti Premer Golpo (Just Another Love Story)

A Rituparno Ghosh (may he rest in peace) and Indraneil Sengupta starring movie, this piece of art was directed by Kaushik Ganguly was the first film on homosexuality to be shot after the 2009 decriminalization of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

Meghadhanushya (The Color of Life)

Former Ayurveda practitioner K R Devamani directed this Gujarati film on homosexuality which was released in 2013. The son of the Maharaja of Rajpipla in Gujarat, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil narrated the story partly.

Margarita With a Straw

This film festival favourite stars the outstanding and ever-stunning Kalki Koechlin who plays the role of a patient with cerebral palsy. It was praised for its portrayal of female sexuality.

Fire

After facing neglect from their respective spouses, two women fall in love. This Deepa Mehta film was released in 1997 amidst a plethora of controversies.

68 Pages

This film features the stories of four characters who are living with AIDS – a gay couple, a transsexual bar dancer and a sex worker. Directed by Sridhar Rangayan, this film received widespread acclaim.

Chitrangada

Another movie starring the inimitable Rituparno Ghosh, this film is about a choreographer who considers gender-reassignment surgery after he becomes involved with a male drummer.