Depiction of Intersectionality and Social Justice of Transgender Identities in Indian Regional Cinema

The scholarly discourse surrounding the incorporation of transgender identities within frameworks of social justice has garnered extensive empirical scrutiny. However, few studies have deeply focused on the unique identity conflicts of transgender identities against binary categories, other LGBTQIA+ members, and themselves in India within the broad framework of Rawls’ concept of social justice. Most literature (Vanita and Kidwai) considered the historic role and relevance of transgender identities for valid reasons to sensitize people. However, it has failed in critically examining transgender identities caught within binary social constructions despite living intersectional challenges. This article studies two biographical regional films, Njan Marykutty (Malayalam) and Naanu Avanalla…Avalu (Kannada), to capture the struggles of transgender identity to be part of mainstream society. Here, I examine the films through the lens of Hélène Cixous’ “male-master” theory and use it as a springboard to underpin transgender identity challenges to the libertarian concept of justice (Rawls). Additionally, this article will study the idea of “I” embodied and asserted through performative constructions (Butler) to “pass off” as a “woman.”