While transgender people, known as hijra, are not uncommon in Bangladesh, they are generally treated as being part of the far edges of society, and ignored by the mainstream. However, after film director Norman Robin saw a transgender person being attacked for using a female toilet in a shopping mall, he was inspired to make a film in the hope of spreading awareness about the prejudice hijra face.
The movie, Common Gender, is the first Bangladeshi movie about transgender people. While many wondered if it would find an audience, since it was released a couple of weeks ago, it’s become a bit of a hit. The film’s distributor, Enamul Karim, told AFP that, ‘We opted to release the movie only in six cinemas in the first week as it lacked big stars and some labelled it as an art-house movie. But it’s a resounding success so far. It is pulling in crowds and other cinemas are taking it up.’
The movie is abou Sushmita, a transgender woman who falls in love with a Hindu boy, However the boy’s parents refuse to accept Sushmita, which eventually leads to her suicide. Now that Common Gender has found success in Bangladesh, the hope is to take it to other countries, with the creators already in talks with an Indian distributor. (Source: AFP via Gay Star News)
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