At the end of March, Vogue India released a video featuring 99 women, many of them Bollywood actresses, intended to be a message of empowerment. Directed by Homi Adajania and based on a work written by Kersi Khambatta, the video features the voice of Deepika Padukone.
In my family, my father is the only male in the house, but all of us have a voice. I've always been allowed to be who I want to be. When you're not caged, when you don't succumb to expectation, that's when you're empowered.
--Padukone
The short filmed received a lot of harsh criticism and several pushback parodies.
Teen Pathar has now released a transgender version, available on the other side.
This short film was intended to honor the 1st anniversary of the Indian Supreme Court's recognition of a third gender.
To live as a man, or a woman, or as a third gender. My choice. To look feminine or to look manly. My choice. To change my gender or to change my name. My choice.
To be born with the sex I don't conform with wasn't my choice. To be thrown out of my house and be vulnerable on streets wasn't my choice. To be ridiculed, wasn't my choice. To be refused a job despite being qualified wasn't my choice.
If you really want to help us, just stop treating us like an outcast.
--Abhina Aher, South Asian transgender community
The film speaks for transgender people outside of India as well.