Now, a movie with transgenders in lead

Chennai, Apr 8 (UNI) An attempt to portray the trials and tribulations of the third gender is being made by Lourdu Xavier through the medium of another tamil film with transgenders in lead roles .

Though acclaimed cinematographer Santosh Sivan had made a serious film on trangenders called 'Navarasa,' this would be the first attempt to produce a commercial movie with transgenders in the lead Director Xavier, a lawyer by profession, said.

The film 'Karuvarai Pookal' (the flowers of womb), which is being directed and produced by Xavier is neither an art movie nor a documentary type. It would have ingredients of a commercial film like songs, love scenes, comedy and melodrama, he said.

In fact, there would be six songs in the film, but there would be no room for obscenity and vulgarity, he added.

Two transgenders -- Lovely Smile and Priya Babu -- are playing the lead roles in the movie which shows the agony and suffering of a character named 'Sathyamurthy,' alias 'Sathya,' who is driven away from home due to his sexual orientation.

Xavier said about 100 transgenders took part in story discussions and approved the story line. The touching story would be blended with comedy and songs to provide relief to the audience, he added.

Xavier said he decided to produce and direct the film after being moved by the plight of transgenders he had come across in his life.

The film would be shot at the locales of Yelagiri, Chennai and Pondicherry with a modest budget of Rs 40 lakh, he said and added the annual rituals observed by transgenders at Arvananan Temple at Koovagam in Villupuram District would also be captured in the film.

He said talks were being held with popular artistes like Pallavi, Vanitha and 'Talaivasal' Vijay to complete the cast of the film.

UNI