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How this play sheds light on stories of Tamil trans women who have fed people
Updated On: 03 December, 2023 09:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Neerja Deodhar
New play at the G5A Warehouse invokes the stories of proud Tamil trans women who have fed several generations of people
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A Revathi, who plays the titular Nooramma, says the challenge of her role is cooking live on stage, through costume changes and monologues
Most theatrical performances end with standing ovations and the assigning of credit to the cast and crew. It is a generous thespian who ends the play with an act of community care—by serving a delicious meal to members of the audience, building a more intimate connection. For Srijith Sundaram, the director of Nooramma: Biriyani Durbar, this narrative choice was inspired by the work of trans women in his home state Tamil Nadu, particularly the Trans Community Kitchen, which provided sustenance to thousands during the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdown, a time of severe food insecurity.
Nooramma is played by community leader and actor A Revathi in what is essentially a solo performance, but she is an embodiment of many different life stories. “There is no one, singular Nooramma,” says Sundaram, whose play will be staged at the G5A Warehouse in Mahalaxmi. “We have presented an amalgamation of all those trans women who have stood tall and made a name for themselves in different parts of Tamil Nadu.” The director has wanted to tell these stories for a while now, particularly after he and his team collected oral histories in the areas around Coimbatore and Namakkal—histories of trans legacy and joy.
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