Loev is not about homosexuality. It features gay leads, but their sexuality is secondary to what they’re going through. That’s a notable milestone, especially in a country whose cinema either makes strawmen out of the LGBT community, or at best, virtue signals about how being gay isn’t the end of the world. Bombay Talkies, another brilliant film that was just added on Netflix, belongs in the latter category. Both films are important though — sexuality needs to be explored as well as normalized.

Shiv Pandit and Dhruv Ganesh (the latter who tragically died after this film completed shooting) pull off the lead roles exceptionally well. Both characters are funny, immature (to different extents), vulnerable, and above all, human. Both characters are in a relationship, with unexplored feelings for each other, until they reunite for a weekend when one of them comes to Mumbai on business.

Loev‘s triumph lies not only in its subject matter, but also in its writing. English-language films often come off as disingenuous (and to some viewers, pretentious). Loev is in the rare league of natural-sounding English-language Indian films, joining the ranks of films like Delhi Belly (if you’ll excuse the example from a strikingly different genre). Loev is a sensitive and sincere film that shuns both stereotyping and preaching, and chooses to tell a story instead.

My rating: 4.5/5