Ardhanaari: Light falls on an obscure world
Aparna Nair
http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/ardhanaari-light-falls-on-an-obscure-world/article4132967.eceWhat drives one to watch the movie is its poignant theme. What one sees on screen is a splash of disturbing colours — bright, glittering sarees, orange- and red-hued flowers, and the disgusting yellow of gold-covered jewellery — that camouflage the theme.
The film has not exactly wasted away a beautiful subject but has certainly not used it well enough to stir thoughts or even prompt empathy with a community that has always been shooed, shunned or brutally shown the door.
It does, however, show glimpses of the real transgender world, especially their emotional upheavals and the way law treats them. It also has a star cast that is widely acclaimed as the cream of Malayalam cinema.