Hijras in Bollywood Cinema

Abstract

Hijras are a community in the Indian subcontinent that is well known for a number of reasons and rituals. The hijra community is heterogeneous and has been known in the historical context for millennia, forming a key part of rituals in Hindu culture, celebrating marriages and child birth. Hijras have been physically attacked and have been the focus of fun (ridicule). They have been portrayed both negatively and positively in literature and in Hindi films—which reach a significant audience not only in India but also among the Indian diaspora—involving hijras as comic figures and as caring maternal figures. In this paper we discuss the heterogeneity of such portrayals, illustrating various types with scenes from Hindi films. Social and cultural contexts and understanding of the context is important in understanding sexualities.

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