Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga(2019)

A classical example of a movie with good intentions but poor execution.

I feel Rajkumar Rao's role as the savior was exaggerated and the real love story between the two girls was downplayed to make the movie more palatable to audiences in India. Alas, that didn't work and disappointed the actual LGBTQ audience in the meantime.

There's nothing wrong with the movie per see but I felt it could have been much, much better.

Badhaai Do, on the other hand, actually showed the heartbreak and the dilemma of queer people so well.

Thoughts?? Has anyone seen it??

Maybe because Rajkumar Rao was the stronger actor than both of the girls cast in the lesbian relationship. The one that could really help us understand and empathize with the stigma of being gay. The two girls caste on other hand sorry to say couldn’t. Maybe it needed better casting. Film can be mediocre but well intentioned!

I have seen it !

I have seen it and definitely think it could hv been better!

Loved songs though!

I could never finish it …it was very boring

I appreciate the idea but the execution is massively flawed …the first thing a film needs to be is engaging

Which this is wasn’t

Originally posted by: mintyblue

...the love story between the two girls was downplayed. Alas, that didn't work and disappointed the LGBTQ audience.

Badhaai Ho like you say, on the other hand, is an incredible film. I watched it for the fourth time just a few days ago 😛 Screenplay, Performances, Story, Direction = outstanding

I grew up in an India where Shiv Sena rioted and burned theaters over Fire. So when Ek Ladki Ko Dekha to Aisa Laga came, I thought it was the best we could get.

But now after watching Badhai Do, I can see how much potential was wasted by ELKDTAL.

Badhai Do checks all the boxes ELKDTAL did to appeal to more conservative Indian audiences. Small town setting. Large close-knit families. A sense of duty toward family. The importance of marriage, family, and children in Indian society.

But in doing so it doesn't sideline the queer characters. Both leads and their significant others get a role in the story. The movie also explores the unique challenges of being gay or lesbian in India. The gay cop struggles with body image, insecurity of fleeting relationships, and the need to assert his masculinity (which ends up turning into misogyny). The lesbian struggles with predatory men, the pressure of both marriage and children, and a maternal desire that she doesn't know how to fulfill.

Both leads get a meet-cute with their significant others. We see their romances blossom and get songs just like heterosexual romcoms. The movie also shows that the couples have a sexual relationship without fully scandalizing or turning off family audiences.

ELKDTAL did nothing of that sort. The lesbian relationship felt underdeveloped and half-baked. There was hardly anything shown for people to empathize with or root for the characters.

On the whole, I have to say I have been impressed with the queer content that is coming out of India. It may have lacked behind other western nations, but it is catching up fast.

Have not watch it

https://youtu.be/HI831KehuKQ

ELKDTAL was a risky proposition, so I am not against the idea of centering the story on Rajkumar's character to ease the viewers into a queer love story. I also get the need for the fairytale resolve, given most queer films have pretty tragic endings. Social acceptance is changing really fast. 2019 is not truly comparable to 2021. The bigger problem with ELKDTAL was the bait and switch with the marketing. I remember multiple people walked out when they realized Sonam's character is a lesbian. The fact that the marketing couldn't even get it through to people what was going on kind of defeats the larger purpose of the film to create awareness.

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

On the whole, I have to say I have been impressed with the queer content that is coming out of India. It may have lacked behind other western nations, but it is catching up fast.