A biopic requires either a sutradhar (narrator) or an interview with a journalist, like the one R Madhavan used in Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, to go into frequent flashbacks and build a life story.
The much-awarded Ravi Jadhav introduces transgender Shreegauri Sawant (Sushmita Sen) in her bindi-and-saree glory, surrounded by kids of all sizes, before she spits fire and rushes out to take on angry men pelting stones on her windows.
Gauri Sawant – nautanki, activist, gamechanger, mother, all rolled into one.
It’s a day of reckoning for Gauri as the Supreme Court of India is poised to deliver a landmark judgment.
Even as she awaits the verdict along with journalist Amanda (Maya Rachel McManus), Gauri is attacked.
Pithy chapters from her life are opened out as the Delhi Police takes its own time to register her complaint while Amanda and she chat outside the police station.
Much of Ganesh-turned-Gauri’s life is already available on the net. But between director Ravi Jadhav and story-screenplay-dialogue writer Kshitij Patwardhan, the crisp six-episode show makes you travel empathetically with schoolboy Ganesh (played by Krutika Rao) who stands up in class to tell his teacher that his ambition in life is to become a mother. A boy who prefers bangles, bindi and sarees as his kindly disposed mother watches in alarm and horrified father (Nandu Madhav) looks on with anxiety and shame.
As Ganesh’s father tells the boy who loves to dress up and dance the seductive lavani, “Don’t make your mazaa into a mazaak before others.”
Policeman Sawant is not the cruel, abusive father a different child frequently encounters. He just cannot fathom why Ganesh is the way he is.
‘Alag hoon but galat nahi, na? Different but not wrong, am I?’
It’s an unapologetic line that Ganesh boldly asks the sexologist during his father’s quest to make a male out of his son.
The activist in Ganesh is apparent early. The ability to duel verbally is natural, a quick retort ready on the lip. On his desire to become a mother which is a biological impossibility, “Devki nahi toh Yashoda ban sakti hoon, na?”
It is a complex life which begins with realising his own identity, overcoming the jealousy of other transgenders when fame comes calling, and surviving a sexual assault attempt. Weakness is not a luxury the vulnerable can afford.
Fortunately, Ganesh/Gauri was born ballsy.
It arms him for the battle ahead as Ganesh understands the value of education and employment, of never having to clap at traffic signals or beg for a living.
When Ganesh takes that giant leap forward to go in for affirmative surgery to transform into a woman, and he wakes up as she, it happens to be the day of Gauri visarjan.
It’s a full story as Gauri is born on a hospital bed and Sawant her father performs the last rites of Ganesh.
With only faith in Sai Baba, laughter and hope as her companions, it was as if Gauri was destined to be the unwitting messiah as circumstances, like abandoned children being brought to her doorstep, or a sex worker’s four-year-old requiring urgent rescue from pimps and madams, make her stand up and fight. For herself and for those who cannot.
Transgenders who could neither identify as male or female were denied their very existence, had no access to everyday documents like a driving license or passport or even a death certificate. Until the Supreme Court recognised the third gender in 2014. It was a victory for equality.
The story of Gauri Sawant is told well by Ravi Jadhav with the inspired casting of Sushmita Sen who physically transforms herself. Deglamourising herself to be Ganesh before the sex change and the sarees, Sushmita is tall, fiery and changes her voice to suit the part. It is only in certain dramatic showdowns with cops or pimps that there is some harsh hamming.
Nandu Madhav is perfect as the disturbed father while Hemangi Kavi who plays Ganesh’s understanding but not really helpful sister, and gay activist Navin (Ankur Bhatia) come in and out ineffectively.
The ultimate victory for Gauri is not just with the Supreme Court verdict, becoming a celebrity TedX speaker, NGO founder, counsellor, activist, social worker and being named Election Ambassador by the Election Commission of India.
It is when dad Sawant applauds her achievements.
Gauri survives the last rites.
Rating: 3/5
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Also Read: Gadar 2 Review