An advertising company based in Kannur is behind this new concept of reality show titled 'Chaanthupottu' of dance and musical programmes, featuring about 40 transgenders selected from different parts of Kerala.
Incidentally, Chaanthupottu is the name of a Malayalam film based on the story of a transsexaul personality in a coastal village, acted by well-known young star Dileep.
The main objective of the show is to bring them into the mainstream as they usually hide themselves from soceity due to various reasons, show Director Moithu Thazham told PTI here.
"The idea for the show came when I saw a few people attack four young transsexuals on the roads of Vadakara five years ago. They were beaten up on charges of immoral activities," he said.
"When I talked to them, I came to know that they are afraid to come out in daytime and are ignored by society," Moithu said.
"The ill-treatment meted out to them by society prompted me to go for the show," he said.
Various organisations working among transgenders identified talented persons in the community and an audition programme was carried out for more than 200 transsexuals.
The plan was to have 50 episodes of different entertainment items with separate teams of four to five persons. The shooting for the programme would start after the Ramzan festival.
"Initially they were very reluctant. Most of the transsexual persons live in isolation and do not want to mingle with ordinary people due to fear of social boycott. Finally, some agreed to participate in the show," Moithu said.
Moithu recently directed a reality show with street singers called 'Street Lights' broadcast by Malayalam channel 'India Vision'.
The channel on which Chaanthupottu would be telecast was yet to be decided, he said. Since it was a 'revolutionary' concept, the channel has to be selected, taking all factors into consideration.
All participants would be awarded and there will no elimination round in the programme. The winner would get a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, he said.
K C Ummaesh Babu, well-known poet and one of the judges in the audition round, said it was a revolutionary programme for the Indian television.
The objective was to give these people a recognition in society and show the world that they also have talents in arts just like other persons.
One of the contestants Subair said 'Chaanthupottu' was a welcome change. However, he disagreed with terming them as 'homosexual' community by a section of media and society.
"People only look upon us as homosexuals. We are also like any other people from different walks of life. It is very unfortunate that people still see us as a different group," Subair said.