Goan director to make film on trangenders

Panaji: After a nationally-acclaimed movie on the lives of nomads, Goa-based director Dnyanesh Moghe is now working on a story about transgenders, which was inspired by real-life story of a state-level athlete who ended life after being questioned about her gender. "The story is about the struggle of transgenders to earn recognition in the society despite being talented. Their talent is always kept on backburner and society keeps on questioning them on their gender," Moghe, who has directed movie like `Digant`, an official selection for Cannes Film Festival last year, said. `Digant` was a movie on the life of Dhangar (shepherd community) tribals. The upcoming movie would be made in Konkani, he said adding that attempt is being made to work on this subject meticulously with proper research. "Many transgenders will act in the movie, but the main character will be played by a Goa-based artiste, whose casting is currently underway," he said. Organisations working for the rights of the LGBT community have pitched in with their expertise. The story of this film is penned by renowned Konkani writer Prasad Lolyekar. "The story is not an autobiography of anyone. But certainly it takes reference from the incident reported a decade back when state-level athlete had to commit suicide after being questioned on her gender," commented Sanjay Shetye, who is producing the movie under the Vinsans Graphics Production. He said that the movie which is yet to be titled will go on the floors later this year. Shetye and Moghe were the face behind `Digant` movie which received critical appreciation during the International Film Festival of India 2012. "The new flick dwells upon a unique subject which is not handled even in the mainstream cinema earlier. The entire projects aims to bring about the true stories behind the life of this community who is striving to get their rights," Shetye said.