抄録
The study analyses the portrayal of transgender characters in Malayalam cinema to determine how these depictions maintain or subvert conventional gender roles which operate within the sociocultural context. A textual analysis of selected films such as Chanthupottu (2005), Ardhanaari (2012), Thira (2013) Njan Marykutty (2018), and others uses gender theory, representation theory, and film theory to explore the nuances of visibility, voice, and identity construction of transgender characters on screen. Further the analysis shows a change from exaggerated and sidelined portrayals to more genuine and relatable representation in recent cinema, however even progressive stories often filter transgender experience through cisgender viewpoints. The analysis identifies several fundamental themes which include gender performativity, medicalization of trans bodies, struggles for acceptance and the tension between representation and visibility. Through its analysis of Malayalam films alongside wider cultural debates about media ethics and identity, the study demonstrates why storytelling practices require more inclusive approaches which advance transgender media criticism and regional Indian cinema representation complexity.
https://ror.org/050113w36 
