“I” is a movie that has been directed by Shankar and starred by Vikram and Amy Jackson in the lead roles. The movie also adds star casts of Santhanam, Ramkumar, Suresh Gopi, Ojas Rajani and few others. The movie had been a most expected on in the Indian Film Industry. The movie was released on the 14th January 2015 following the Pongal Festival.
Though the movie had been running successfully all over India in different languages, it was objected by a group of Transgenders in Tamil Nadu. Two days ago Banu and Swapna Transgenders decided to go on a agitation stating the reason that the movie had scenes portraying Transgenders which creates bad impression about the Transgenders.
Today morning around 10:30 am, a group of transgenders numbering approximately 10-15 persons gathered opposite to Shastri Bhavan in Nungambakkam. The Regional Office of the Central Board of Film Certification is located inside Shastri Bhavan. The group raised slogans against the movie “I”, Director Shankar, Actors Vikram and especially Santhanam. They shouted slogans that a Transgender (Ojas Rajani – A famous costumer in Bollywood) have been badly portrayed in the movie “I”. They also added that in the recent films, Santhanam had been often degrading Transgenders in many movies. In regard to the movie “I”, Vikram was blamed for criticizing transgenders along with Santham with an old song “Oororam Puliyamaram” of “Paruthi Veeran” movie.
The group was led by Banu an Engineering student, Selvi a Doctor practicing in a Government Hospital and one Swapna. Banu and Selvi while talking to the media persons said that the scenes portraying bad about Transgenders in the movie “I” should be removed. They also added that Director of the movie Shankar, actors Vikram and Santhanam should apologize to the Transgenders for portraying them wrongly.
Later they met Mr.Pakirisamy, Regional Officer, CBFC and filed a written complaint to him to take necessary action on their complaint against the movie “I”. After coming out of the office of RO, CBFC, Banu and Selvi stated that the Regional Officer of CBFC has assured them that he would initiate action to cut such controversial scenes in films to be certified in the near future. The group warned other film makers not to portray Transgenders in wrong manner, since they are been harassed in public stating such bad examples appearing in movies.
After filing the petition the group of transgenders dispersed away from the agitation spot.
