Rituporno Ghosh: Remembering the LGBTQ icon through his films
On the 52nd birth anniversary of filmmaker Rituporno Ghosh, let's remember his outstanding movies that challenged the conservative society.
Had he been alive, Rituparno Ghosh, award-winning Bengali film maker whose films about women and sexuality challenged conservative sensibilities in India, would have turned 52 today.
Rituparno, 12 times National award winner, pursued a degree in economics and started his career in an advertising agency as a creative artist. He entered the world of cinema in 1992, with his debut film Hirer Angti (Diamond Ring). He won his first national film award for Best Feature Film in 1994 for Unishe April (19th April).
This Satyajit Ray fan is a gay with assertive attitude towards his own sexual identity. This, when expressed through his films, made him an icon for the LGBTQ community.
A cross-dresser, Ghosh was open about his sexual orientation and was also appreciated for bringing out sex as a theme in Bengali movies, something that was frowned upon and left largely untouched even by the connoisseurs of Bengali parallel cinema. In his movies, Ghosh reflected the difficulties and life altering choices faced by the gays and proudly have been a torch bearer for the LGBTQ community.
Let's have a look at some of the films where he proudly puts forward the nuances of the third gender:
Arekti Premer Golpo (Just Another Love Story) 
Source: PTI
Arekti Premer Golpo is a 2010 drama film directed by Bengali filmmaker Kaushik Ganguly which stars Rituparno Ghosh and Indraneil Sengupta where Ghosh played a gay filmmaker. This film was the first film shot post the decriminalisation of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The film also won the Engendered Award for Outstanding Cinema in 2010.
Memories in March 
Source: PTI
Memories in March is a 2010 film directed by Sanjoy Nag starring Deepti Naval, Rituparno Ghosh and Raima Sen. Rituporno plays the role of the lover of Deepti Naval's late son. The film explores the situation of a mother coming in terms with the sexual identity of her late son. This movie won Best Feature Film in English at the 58th National Film Awards.
Chitrangada(The Crowning Wish)
Source: PTI
Written and directed by Ghosh, Chitrangada is based on the story of Chitrangada from the epic Mahabharata, Rituporno plays the role of a choreographer and the film revolves around the struggles of his sexual identity. The film won the Special Jury Award at the 60th National Film Awards.
Rituporno passed away on May 30, 2013 due to a heart attack.