Publications

Abstract : In India total population of transgender is around 4.88lakh as per the census of 2011. Among other countries India holds the highest transgender population as per the report of the Census Department. But still they are migrating to other countries because of the pitiful condition of isolation and insult and humiliation they face in India. Their population in Tamilnadu is around 22,364. This paper, intends to analyze aspects of the complex life experience faced by the transgender, as portrayed in the Tamil movie Navarasa(2005). From the perspective of Queer theory, an attempt is made to delve into the miserable conditions of their life and to understand the politics involved in the peculiar experience of the community. The movie was directed by Padma Shri Santhosh Sivan and it won the Silver Lotus Award for the Best Regional Film [Tamil]. The movie is presented through the eyes of a 13 year old girl Shweta, who discovers her uncle Gautham’s wish to change his gender. He is a female trapped in a male’s body. Shwetha follows Gautham who ran away to live his life by his choice and the way he is. It is during her journey to find her uncle that Shwetha meets other people from the transgender community and she gets exposed to their life and culture.