In real lfe, transvestites live a painfully shunned existence in the outer fringes of society. In reel life, they are used to provide comic relief through their dance and clap routine or exaggerated histrionics. But a brigade of sensitive directors are

now working within the mainstream format to depict the challenges and ridicule the transvestites face.
Among the recent crop of films that looked at their plight through a humane eye was Murder 2 directed by Mohit Suri, with Bollywood actor Prashant Narayanan playing a transvestite serial killer Dheeraj Pandey in a gory tale of blood and violence. It had been touted as an Emraan Hashmi film but it was Prashanth who walked away with the accolades. This film scripted by Mahesh Bhatt had his typical stamp of unconventionality and boldness. In fact, Bhatt is credited with introducing eunuch characters in Bollywood like Sadashiv Amrapurkar in Sadak and Paresh Rawal in Tamanna.
The talented stage actor Prashant, who had earlier done films like Chaal, Waisa Bi Hotta Hai, Yeh Saali Zindagi, Bhindi Bazaar Inc, says he just did what came naturally while playing the role. As the shock element in the film, Prasant breathed life into the brutal and menacing character through his dialogue delivery and mannerisms. “One look at the script and I decided that if I were not a part of this film, it would not do well,” jokes Prashant, adding, “The biggest compliment was a comment that I could give the heroines a run for their money.” He clearly likes to downplay the entire experience but for actors like him, it is the challenge posed by such a role that makes them go for it.
Malayalam actor Jayasurya will soon play a eunuch in Ardhanareeshwaran, to be directed by Rateesh Ravi. An actor always ready to reinvent himself, Jayasurya is thrilled about his reasons for accepting the role: “It offers ample scope for me to be different. An actor should refuse to be typecast as that would hamper his professional growth. This role demands extensive homework, be it by watching similar films or reading books and I am elated at the prospect of doing it.” He says the film is about a man raised as a woman attracting ridicule in his community and his eventual acceptance into a land of eunuchs who he can identify with. The film aims at highlighting the difficulties of the transgender community.
The forthcoming Tamil movie Ardhanari is expected to show the third gender in a sensitive and favourable light. Kollywood actor Karan, who will play the lead, has gone on record saying that he wanted to be part of the project as it did not make the biological aberration a point of ridicule.
In the recent Hindi film, Queens — Destiny of Dance, first-time director David Atkins told the story of a close-knit eunuch community with strong bonds. The film takes one to the heart of a hijra community run by Seema Biswas as GuruAmma. Set against a royal backdrop with the visual richness of gorgeous ornaments and beautiful costumes, the film has actor-dancer Vineeth play a pretty and young transvestite Mukta who is looked up to by others of the community as the next leader. The entry of a mysterious stranger forces Mukta to unearth the truth about her real identity.
Says Vineeth about the experience, “The sensitive and positive nature of the character was what attracted me. At the same time, there were complex shades and insecurities too, which was a challenge. I had to play the role of a lady-like and dignified transvestite without looking cheap and for this, I looked for inspiration from yesteryear heroines.”
Vineeth adds that the 45 hijras who were part of the cast helped him drape his sari and put on the make-up. His dancing skills helped him get the eloquent gestures and facial expressions right. The hardest part? “I had to shave three times a day and tweeze my eyebrows, which was painful but it was worth all the trouble,” he says.
Certainly the most unlikely actor to play such a role was Sarath Kumar, the muscular Kollywood action hero known for his villain bashing and dare devil stunts. He had such a complete makeover in Raghava Lawrence’s Telugu film Kanchana that many people did not even recognise the actor. The filmmaker’s attempt was to make a comedy cum horror film but he wanted to send a message by showing Sarath Kumar’s character as having dignity and an aim in life.
“It was a difficult role to play. I had played a woman earlier but doing a transgender’s role was something new,” remarked Sarath. “My wife commented that I already had a lot of female fans and would now add some male ones too!” Commenting on the disadvantages faced by the transvestite community, he observed how passports only have a male/female option, making it difficult for transgenders to get one.
In Malayalam cinema, known for its experimental themes, Omana of Chandupottu, played by the versatile Dileep has a special place. Directed by Lal Jose, the film that combined comedy and pathos was about a boy brought up as a girl by a doting grandmother, with painted nails, oil slicked hair, lipstick and feminine gait. Says Dileep, “The role was challenging and my observation of people helped me slip into the role. Later, I found it hard to shake off my mannerisms.”
While Chandupottu was a hit, some of the other films tackling the third gender may not exactly have set the cash registers ringing. But directors, scriptwriters and actors with the courage to tread a new path believe meaningful cinema will hold a place of honour for transgenders, and the journey to that goal has already begun.