Portrayal of Transgender in Indian Cinema, with special reference to ‘Taali’, an Indian webseries- A critical review

Abstract

The portrayal of transgender characters in Indian films has been a subject of ongoing discussion and evolution. Transgender are those people whose gender behaviour or identity do not match with their biological sex from the time of their birth. Traditionally, transgender individuals, often referred to as “Hijras” have been depicted in Indian cinema using stereotypes and exaggerated characteristics, which perpetuated stigma and misconceptions. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition and representation of gender fluidity in film. This shift is a response to the increasing demand for authentic and inclusive storytelling, as well as the efforts of marginalized communities to have their experiences represented on screen. Taali, is a web series, based on the true story of Gauri Sawant, who is a popular transgender activist from Mumbai and is known as the voice of the community . It tells her journey as a transgender and depicts all the incidents from the life of the transgender activist and the struggles she faced during her fight to get transgenders recognised as the third gender on all official documents in India. This research will examine how the third gender is portrayed in Indian cinema and explain how there is a shift in opinion about transgender portrayal in Indian cinema and why including these gender and sexual minorities in media is important in today’s culture.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.65525/SVUP.9788196793241.2025.75-88