I saw her in a play directed by Mangai in Tamil Nadu. The play was called 'Anmayo Anmay' (Macho-O-Macho). She was doing this play along with other common friends like Ponni Arasu. We all from LesBiT went to watch this play in Chennai. The play was staged in Bangalore and she came and stayed with me and Sumathi in our house. It was wonderful time we spent. Then told her about the oral history documentation work on LGBTI people that we were doing and she immediately agreed to give us an interview and insisted that we stay in her house. We too agreed.
Smiley..... full of smiles and also most intense complex person who has struggled hard in life to be what she has wanted to be - an actor, writer, theatre director, one who has worked in films, activist and so many other things. Smiley lives in Chennai and is the first one in the community to have written an autobiography about the experience of transition of male to female.
Personally she is one who keeps talking laughing and entertaining and very friendly. In her house where she lives it is like a house of an activist and an artist, There is beautiful painting pasted to the mirror of her cupboard. Many photos of Bob Marley all around. She is one of the few people who initiated herself into the Aravani community and after living the life willfully came out to explore the life independently on her own doing theatre.
She before initiating into the Aravani community was had finished post graduation and after the initiation for it was her desire, followed all the customs of Aravani community even though she was very well educated. She comes from a working class and Dalith caste, who struggled hard to educate herself and also worked in a Bank. Even when we said we wanted to do her video interview and looking for a location, she preferred 'Spaces' - a theatre space where she has acted many times and said that, that place brings out her most intimate being of herself. This theatre space is in front of the Besant Nagar beach.
Smiley..... full of smiles and also most intense complex person who has struggled hard in life to be what she has wanted to be - an actor, writer, theatre director, one who has worked in films, activist and so many other things. Smiley lives in Chennai and is the first one in the community to have written an autobiography about the experience of transition of male to female.
Personally she is one who keeps talking laughing and entertaining and very friendly. In her house where she lives it is like a house of an activist and an artist, There is beautiful painting pasted to the mirror of her cupboard. Many photos of Bob Marley all around. She is one of the few people who initiated herself into the Aravani community and after living the life willfully came out to explore the life independently on her own doing theatre.
She before initiating into the Aravani community was had finished post graduation and after the initiation for it was her desire, followed all the customs of Aravani community even though she was very well educated. She comes from a working class and Dalith caste, who struggled hard to educate herself and also worked in a Bank. Even when we said we wanted to do her video interview and looking for a location, she preferred 'Spaces' - a theatre space where she has acted many times and said that, that place brings out her most intimate being of herself. This theatre space is in front of the Besant Nagar beach.
These are all stories of fighters and survivors. More power to our people to fight and defeat hunger, oppression,hopelessness and even death. Love to all my trans brothers and sisters.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the previous comment and would have loved to see the face of this strong person. How come you dont show the face?
ReplyDeleteThanks Veena, We have not been showing anybody's face just to avoid misuse... in any possible way.
ReplyDelete