Tamil film Iruttu Araiyil Murattu Kuthu earns the wrath of LGBT community

Transgender activist-politician-TV host Apsara Reddy along with Chennai Dost, an LGBTQ support group, protested against Iruttu Araiyil Murattu Kuthu and its portrayal of LGBTQ community.

Gautham Karthik starrer adult comedy Iruttu Arayil Murattu Kuthu, which has opened to a rousing response at the box-office, has ruffled some feathers of the LGBT community. They have taken offence to how a homosexual character has been portrayed in the film. Transgender activist-politician-TV host Apsara Reddy along with Chennai Dost, an LGBTQ support group, protested against the film and its portrayal of LGBT community and virgin women at the Tamil Film Producers Council on Tuesday.

Apsara Reddy, the TV host-politician protested against portrayal of LGBT community in Irattu Araiyil Murattu Kuthu.

According to a report by The New Indian Express, Apsara said: “We’ve approached the Chennai Commissioner of Police, AK Viswanathan, with a complaint against the film. Actor Vishal had told us he’d come to the Council but didn’t turn up. However, I hope he will extend his support.”

Apsara feels the film mocks homosexuals. “Indirectly the film says it’s alright to treat them in a bad way, which amounts to a violation of human rights. Films influence people’s thoughts. Does the director know the amount of bullying that they deal with — starting from schools to be a part of this society? Due to media’s projection of them, people have developed a feeling of disgust towards transgender persons. There are many who are educated, and successful in life,” she said.

However, the film’s director Santhosh P Jayakumar is unapologetic. He said the film doesn’t target the entire LGBT community. “When CBFC has already certified the film, I don’t understand how anyone else can take offence. If the board didn’t find anything offensive, how could anyone else. Moreover, I didn’t use the word gay or homosexual to refer to any character in the film. We also had the disclaimer at the beginning of the film that all the characters are fictional. It’s time we see entertainment as entertainment and stop making a big deal out of everything,” he told Hindustan Times.

Follow @htshowbiz for more