These movies celebrating homosexuality will make you see love in a whole new light.

1. Carol (2015)

Therese (Rooney Mara) works as a shop-girl in a department store and one fine day, she locks eyes with a gorgeous older woman in a fur coat, Carol (Cate Blanchett). They develop a friendship and later, something far deeper, at a time when same-sex love still dared not speak its name. 

2. Fire (1996)

Deepa Mehta’s film starring Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das remains somewhat synonymous to the subject of homosexuality in India. Radha (Shabana Azmi) and Sita (Nandita Das) are married to two brothers and live in a joint family. Both their marriages are in trouble and they choose to confide in each other. They gradually fall in love and decide to be together. While their relationship is a sin in society’s eyes, they see it as a way to achieve the long lost happiness in their lives.

3. Kissing Jessica Stein (2001)

Jessica (Jennifer Westfeldt) spots a personal advertisement in the newspaper from Helen (Heather Juergensen) who is seeking a lesbian relationship to replace her unsatisfying and meaningless sex with men. They start caring for each other but Jessica is scared of getting intimate. Even after they start living together, their relationship is more like friends than that of sexual partners. This movie discovers the sexual confusion a lot of us have gone through at some point in our lives.

4. Bombay Talkies (2013)

The story called Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh by Karan Johar in Bombay Talkies shows the story of a married couple, Dev & Gayatri (Randeep Hooda & Rani Mukerji) and the entry of a gay man, Avinash (Saqib Saleem) in their lives. Gayatri is unfazed when Avinash tells her about his sexuality. Gradually, Avinash discovers that Dev had hidden his sexuality from himself and his wife all his life and encourages him to come out. 

5. Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013)

15-year-old Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos) is attracted to the blue haired Emma (Léa Seydoux), a graduate student. They finally meet at a lesbian bar and it’s just the start of their passionate relationship. Emma’s family is very welcoming to the couple, but Adèle tells her conservative parents that Emma is just a tutor for her philosophy class. Time passes and they start living together as a couple. Their relationship takes a toll when their work starts hampering their love life. One of my personal favourites, this. 

6. Margarita, with a Straw (2015)

Laila (Kalki Koechlin) is a college student who falls in love with a woman when she goes to study abroad. This feeling is new for her as she’s only had boy crushes before. The comfort and bond that Laila and Khanum (Sayani Gupta) share is just beautiful to watch. Kalki and Sayani perfectly bring the characters to life. 

7. Grandma (2015)

Elle (Lily Tomlin) is a lesbian poet coping with the recent death of her long-term life partner. She receives a visit from her 18-year-old grand daughter, Sage (Julia Garner), who asks her for money so she can get an abortion. Elle and Sage embark on a journey so they can find money for Sage’s abortion. This journey acts as a coping strategy for Elle to move on in life. What ensues is a story full of emotions. 

8. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

A list of unconventional love stories can never be complete without mentioning Brokeback Mountain. It is the story of a forbidden and secretive relationship between two cowboys, and their lives over the years. Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ennis (Heath Ledger) share a brief moment of affection but separate shortly after. Ennis marries his longtime girlfriend and Jack marries too, but both marriages start deteriorating. Will they get back together? 

9. I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)

Steven (Jim Carrey) turns into a con man after he discovers his true self. He’s sent to prison where he falls in love with Philip (Ewan McGregor). Even after Steven is released from prison, he poses as a lawyer to get Philip out of the prison. The beauty of the movie lies in Steven’s persistent efforts to be with his love, Philip.

10. Angry Indian Goddesses (2015)

This film’s lesbian love story is understated. It never goes overboard and remains realistic. The story of two women in love is told in the most subliminal manner. The film also celebrates different shades of female friendship.

Don’t forget to grab some popcorn along.