'Hope film on transgender activist Vidya breaks stereotypical image'

Director B.S. Lingadevaru, who helmed the National Award-winning "Naanu Avanalla...Avalu" (I am not a he, but she), based on transgender activist Living Smile Vidya, hopes the film moves society to shed inhibitions and break the stereotypical image of the marginalised community.

"After making the film, I can now sit down and have a cup of coffee with them. That's my transformation and I couldn't have done it earlier. This is my hope that after watching the film, society will not shy away from them," Lingadevaru told the media here at the 21st Kolkata International Film Festival.

The 115-minute Kannada feature is adapted from Vidya's autobiography "I am Vidya".

"I had seen transgender begging at traffic signals but Vidya's story showed me that transgenders can lead a dignified life," said the National Award-winning filmmaker.

The story is about Madesha, a boy who finds early in life that he is trapped in a male body and as he grows up, his wish to become a female grows stronger.

As Madesha begins living as a female, Vidya, one gets to the appalling life of the transgender community in India. Eventually Vidya decides to undergo a sex change operation and has to face many hurdles. The film is about Vidya's triumph against all odds.

"I didn't want the movie to spread a message rather it should prod viewers to raise questions," added Lingadevaru.

The film premiered at the 62nd National Film Festival in May 2015, and won two awards Best Actor (Sanchari Vijay) and Best Make-up Artist (Raju, Nagaraj).