Paavai Kadhaigal

Films often criticise or make fun of the LGBTQ community but the twenty-first century is different. Here, Iam discussing a film called Paava Kadhaigal. Paava Kadhaigal is an Netflix anthology by the following directors: Sudha Kongara, Vignesh Shivan, Gautham Vasudev Menon and Vetrimaaran. My focus is on the first story - 'Thangam' directed by Sudha Kongara.

Thangam is the story of a transwoman who is mentally a woman but hasn't undergone a surgery but saving up for it. Sathar (transwoman), from a poor Muslim household wishes to marry and unite with her loved one whom she calls 'Thangam' (Precious). Later on Sathar realises that 'Thangam' doesn't reciprocate the feeling and loves her own sister, Sahira. Sathar tries to unite Thangam and Sahira and they elope together. Plight of Sathar in the end is terrible, she is disowned by her family and wants her to die for the welfare of her sisters. Heartbroken, she willingly goes in front of some Hooligans, whom were waiting for a chance. They violates and kills her. It was the toughest kind of suicide. The movie is a heart-breaking tale, the sad part is that, it is the reality. Still people are hostile towards transgender and families are ashamed of them. Here Sathar is such a pure heart that she gave up all the money, saved from her lifetime for her loved one and sister to escape. Yet the cruel neighbourhood and her family killed her by shutting the doors in front of her, letting her die. 
All the actors especially Kalidas Jayaram; actor who portrayed the character Sathar did total justice to the character. Even though the film doesn't showcase any harsh violences the symbolic representation is enough to have the desired impact on the viewer. One sudden thought came in to me while watching the film was that why isn't a movie about transmen. It is a double subjugation, first for being a woman and then for the conversion to man. Expecting more movies from this perspective.