Is being a transsexual a sin?

Discrimination, oppression, injustice, endless are the woes of transsexuals, who seek a fair deal from society. But their woes continue, as the tinsel world too has begun to tease them on the big screen to generate a giggle or two at their expense.

CJ: Francis P Barclay

Tue, Nov 11, 2008 22:39:46 IST

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Sex Scandals :

FROM TAMIL classics like `Paalabishekam’ and `Oru Thalai Raagam’ to the recent `Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu’ and `Sillunu Oru Kadhal’, the comedy is at the expense of the transsexuals, who, in local parlance, are called `aravanis’ or `thirunangais’. In `Sillunu Oru Kadhal’, Vadivel (the comedian) goes to a bordello, expecting to find some cute girls, but comes out in a hurry seeing an `aravani’ there. Scared, he cries, “everything looks double.” Then, a group of transsexuals surround him and harasses him for money. Interestingly, they have `used’ real `aravanis’ in the movie, which, in fact, amounts to exploiting the poverty or destitution of a hapless section of society.

In the movie `Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu’, a transsexual is used as a tool to torture prisoners. Taking exception to this kind of ill-treatment of transsexuals, Asha Bharati of Tamilnadu Aravaanigal Association said: “I was shocked to see `Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu’. I had high regard for Kamal Haasan. How can he allow such nonsense in that film? I thought he was one of the thinking actors and filmmakers we have got, but he has proved himself to be an ordinary filmmaker with the money-grabbing spirit. I will never see his films again.”

She also questioned the ethos of the filmmakers in exploiting the poverty and ignorance of the `aravanis’ in films. There is a huge list of films which portrays `aravanis’ as comical characters; the list includes hits like `Tirupaachi’, `Thiruda Thirudi’ and `Jayam’. They either dress up junior artistes as `aravanis’ or use real `aravanis’ in comedy scenes.

Kalki, a theatre artist, writer and media specialist, who is also a transgender, said, “I wish all these filmmakers knew how to respect every individual in spite of their gender and sexuality. They should understand that transgendered people, too, want to lead a dignified life in society. We have moral values which one and all should follow. Look at the Western media. Ask these filmmakers to see `Transamerica’ and `Soldier’s girl. The pity is that no politician raises his voice in favour of us. No one notices the community’s sufferings and discrimination.”

Priya Babu, a transgender activist and writer, said, “We are planning to take legal action against such portrayal of us in films. We can no more tolerate this nonsense. Even the members of the Censor Board seem to be indifferent in this matter. The stereotyping of our community in the films has to be stopped.”

Said Apsara, a caterer-member of the community: “Youths harass me more than ever before, perhaps after seeing the movies. I fear they seem to show hatred against me after watching `Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu’. I just don’t know how to explain the truth....”

Monal, a transgender and a theatre artist, said, “We are fighting for our rights in society, but all our efforts will go in vain if this kind of portrayal of us in films continues. So, this should be stopped by all means.”

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