[I ran across the film review below while searching for contemporary Indian cinema. I have not yet been able to find a source for the film, but would appreciate any leads that Archive readers might be able to give. ---JA]

Madras Eyes mixes both fiction and documentary styles to create a unique film that examines the life-story of a young eunuch living in India.

An Indian film director named Arun is wandering through the chaos and confusion of Madras, looking for inspiration for his next movie. Suddenly, he finds himself captivated by a statue of the androgynous god Ardanari, half man, half woman. Feeling inspired, he asks Sharda, a charming and mysterious eunuch, to tell him about life between the male and the female. Interviews with Sharda and Sharda's family are intercut with recreations of episodes from the young eunuch's life, depicted as if they were filmed for a popular Indian movie. We see Sharda as a curious young boy attracted to all things female and unhappy living as a male. When he grows older he leaves his family to live with the eunuchs, and soon decides to be properly initiated by taking part in the Sadhara ceremony commonly referred to as Nirvana.

Madras Eyes was shot in Southern India in a real eunuch community with their full cooperation. In one scene, Arun is given a blessing from the founder of the eunuch community to make his film and to educate the people of their plight.

Madras Eyes dir. Ilaria Freccia 1998 Italy 80 min. video Hindi