New film on Indian eunuchs

[JesusA (imported)]

Film on Indian eunuchs on US tour

New York: A documentary on Indian eunuchs by filmmaker Parthiban Shanmugam is attracting critical attention in the US, receiving an 'honourable mention' at the recently concluded Tribeca Underground Film Festival here?

Produced by Eagle Mount Productions, The Celestial Brides received a standing ovation when it was screened at a venue on Park Avenue here last week, a press release said.

It now moves to the Boston International Festival on June 9.

The film takes the viewer to the village of Koovagam in Tamil Nadu where thousands of eunuchs gather every year to worship and marry the warrior deity, Aravan.

Considering eunuchs to be incarnations of Mohini, the feminine form of the Hindu god Krishna, the Aravani festival recognises the homosexual identity of this third gender, the statement said.??The festival helps the eunuchs to assert themselves in a society that shuns them and deprives them of dignity and a rightful status, it added.

Director Shanmugham, a trained lawyer, has previously made a documentary called "Mathamma", or living goddess, a tradition that certain communities in Tamil Nadu use to sanction the sexual exploitation of young girls. ??He is currently working on a documentary titled "We Are Not Faraway", which is based on the lives of the homeless in the US.

NewKerala.com

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?acti ... s&id=56980

There is a review with two photos from the film at

http://nripulse.com/AmericanMasala.htm

The text of that review follows:

Preview of Celestial Brides

Directed By

Parthiban Shanmugham

Eagle Mount Productions and Director Parthiban Shanmugam present a documentary on the Eunuchs of India called ‘The Celestial Brides’. The lone entry into the Tribeca Underground International Film Festival http://www.befilm.net/.

The Celestial brides will premier on May 5, 2006.

The film takes the viewer to the village of Koovagam in the Southern India state, Tamil Nadu where thousands of Eunuchs gather every year to worship and marry the warrior deity, Aravan. The eunuch brides of Aravan - the Aravanis, rejoice in the Koovagam festival and indulge in open sexual relations with other men.

Considering the Eunuchs to be the incarnations of Mohini, the feminine form of God Krishna, the Aravani festival recognizes the homosexual identity of this third gender. It helps the Eunuchs to assert themselves in a society, which shuns them and deprives them of dignity and a rightful status.

During the making of his previous film ‘Mathamma’, (www.mathamma.com) Director Parthiban Shanmugham learnt about the controversial Aravani festival from Dr. Kasthuri Kantharaj M.D., a pioneer in the field of AIDS research, treatment and prevention in India. “The concerns of the Aravanis need to be addressed. Due to the unprotected homosexual practice amongst Eunuchs, the health of all the involved people is at great risk - We need to strive to create an awareness about AIDS”, said Parthiban, explaining the major motivations behind making of this documentary.

Parthiban added that the unique and unfamiliar Aravani festival from the Hindu tradition openly sanctions the union of homosexuals, proving that Hindu mythology did recognize and assign members of the transgender community a distinct status of their own. In spite of the mythological reference, the Eunuchs have always been tormented, neglected and constantly devalued by their family and society. Even the legal system makes no accommodation for the eunuchs because as per Section 377 of IPC, homosexuals can be prosecuted.

But not all is lost, adds Parthiban. Although the federal government does not provide any kind of welfare schemes or assistance to eunuchs, the Tamil Nadu state government headed Dr. Jayalalitha Jayaram, has now adopted a policy to help the eunuchs in Tamil Nadu by providing them with employment opportunities in government-run establishments.

The Documentary film exposes the hypocrisy surrounding this ancient practice and boldly conveys the need of the Aravanis for recognition, de-alienation and respect in the human society.

Currently Parthiban shooting his film based on on real life tale of homeless people in Atlanta where he is living with them on the street for 30 days.

[surf_toad (imported)]

i saw something very similar on the national geographic channel but it was very broad in spectrum. same celebration, but had many heterosexual men crossdressing and taking part. leaving the eunuchs with fewer prospective husbands.