Documentary sheds light on plight of transgenders

Transgenders are regarded with disdain in society today. Even films which are a barometer of popular tastes and perceptions revel in poking fun and ridicule them.

When there is an encounter with one, questions are inevitable. What is the life of a transgender like? How do they feel living in a society with an identity crisis? How can anybody live with another identity rather than the gender assigned at birth?

To demystify the life of a transgender, the Centre for Media and Cultural Studies (CMCS), Tata Institute of Social Science has produced a documentary film with title ‘XXWhy’. This documentary film is directed by B Manjula, chairperson of CMCS. XXWhy is a documentary film on Sree Nandu, a female to male transgender.
His existence in Kerala posed many uncomfortable issues, which question the notion of fixed gender identities. Twenty-five-year old Sree Nandu is the first in Kerala to come in the open about his identity. Suffering and redemption, love and hatred, pain and joy all go entwined and entangled in Sree Nandu’s life, while the undercurrent is accumulating trauma and determination to survive. Quite strange in a social milieu, where transgenders are still invisible and inaudible. “I have been in touch with Sree Nandu for almost six years. I have seen how he suffers from mental trauma, when he was socially boycotted. At the time of his mother’s death no one allowed him to take part in the final rites ceremony.” said Manjula.

She added, “Being in TISS, we research culture of the society. So when I met him I thought for making a documentary on his struggle.  The purpose of making this documentary is to clarify many preconceived notions surrounding transgender community, while questioning the existence of social positions and fixed gender identities.”

The film has shown all the aspects of his life like apparel, hobbies, sexual life, marriage, social identity crisis. The film has won the best short documentary award at the recently concluded Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival and best documentary award at the School of Media Studies, Kochi. XXWhy has been shortlisted by Inside Out, largest LGBT film festival in Toronto. The film’s premiere show was in October, 2008 at Hart House, Toronto.

The film was screened at various places in India, Canada and London. The film was selected for screening in the competition section of SIGNS 2009 and was one of the five final films selected by the jury. The film was also reported widely in print and electronic media.