Tamil film on third sex in offing

, Oct 16 (IANS) A Tamil film on the travails of the third sex is in the making. Titled "Moonram Piravi (Third Birth)", the film will tell the story of a young man undergoing hormonal transformation and suffering the social consequences of a gender change.

According to the film's producers, the Dream World Cine Creations will send out a positive message. They say it will present the protagonist in the role of a fighter for the transvestites and their rights.

Debutants Rameshkanth and Priya play lead roles. The cast will include a large number of transvestites.

M. Hanifa directs the film, for which he writes the screenplay as well.

It remains to be seen if "Moonram Piravi" proves a bold departure from the traditions of Tamil cinema or trivialises the theme by ending up as a mere commercial entertainer like many earlier films where the transvestites are reduced to a subject of crude comedy.