Transgender to host chat show in Vijay TV

Chennai, Nov 2: In a first of its kind experiment in Indian television history, a transgender will host a chat show on the Tamil satellite channel 'Vijay TV' beginning this December.

The show will be hosted by 28-year-old Rose, a transgender with two post-graduate engineering degrees from the US.

The issues to figure in the chat show 'Ippadikku Rose' (Yours Rose) include child abuse, discrimination, taboo subjects and problems of transgenders.

''There are thousands of social issues and problems of transgenders is one among them. All the issues will be discussed in the show,'' Rose told newspersons here yesterday.

She said the programme would change the society's view of transgenders.

''There is a great misconception about transgenders in the society. Even they have dreams and aspirations like anyone else. I believe this show will definitely change the way the society sees our community,'' Rose said.

''I believe my education and experiences abroad among others will stand me in good stead in presnting this show successfully,'' she added.

Rose would be creating a record of sorts for being the first transgender to host a show on TV, despite objections from her family.

Vijay TV Programme Head Pradeep said ''We did not have a second thought on producing the show after meeting her.

''This show is not to sensationalise but to provide a platform to get the right message across to the viewers,'' he added.

UNI