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Cinema and art have seen a refreshing representation of unconventional characters and narratives, with the spotlight on the other gender in films and shows serving as a much-needed catalyst for change.

With the emergence of Ott platforms, these narratives have broken free from traditional shackles, inviting audiences to embrace diversity, challenge stereotypes, and redefine acceptance.

Many films and shows have emerged that sensitively portray transgender characters, shedding light on their struggles, triumphs, and unique stories.

Here’s a list of five must-watch films and shows available on various Ott platforms that capture their stories:

Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui

Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, it is a romantic film that revolves around a love story set in the vibrant city of Chandigarh. The film follows the journey of a bodybuilder, portrayed by Ayushmann Khurrana, who unexpectedly falls in love with a Zumba teacher, played by Vaani Kapoor. Unaware of her identity as a transgender,...

The creators of ‘Taali’, Arjun Singgh Baran and Kartk D Nishandar, have opened up on how Sushmita Sen and transgender social activist Shreegauri Sawant bonded over a ‘common’ factor.

Sushmita will portray one of the boldest avatar as ‘Shreegauri Sawant’ in the upcoming series ‘Taali’.

The teaser gave a sneak peek of the courageous quest of struggles, resilience and triumph of the transgender activist.

Talking about the common bonding factor between Sushmita and Shreegauri, the duo said: “Imagine having to petition to be recognised as a gender. Shreegauri Sawant’s story will reveal how many odds citizens like her have to face.”

“She is a huge inspiration as a human-being who not only triumphed over societal challenges but also adopted the daughter of a deceased AIDS patient. Both Sushmita and Shreegauri Sawant are adoptive mothers, and bonded closely over this common factor,” they shared.

Sushmita is a mother of two adopted daughters.

Having starred alongside Sushmita Sen, as siblings in the two seasons of the critically acclaimed series ‘Aarya’, actor Ankur Bhatia has now reunited with the actress again for the biographical drama ‘Taali’.

In the Ravi Jadhav directorial, Ankur will be seen in a bold choice of role as a gay activist. The role celebrates diversity and inclusivity.

Talking about his role in the series, Ankur revealed: “In the show, I play the character of Navin, who is a gay activist, and the biggest supporter of Gauri Sawant, played by Sushmita Sen.”

In the crime thriller ‘Aarya’, Ankur had played the character of Sangram Singh Rathore, who was Aarya Sareen’s (played by Sushmita) half brother.

On his reunion with Sushmita, Ankur shared: “It brought me immense happiness and excitement to reunite with Sushmita after ‘Aarya’, and especially on this kind of a subject that carries such an important message.”

“And...

Actress Sushmita Sen is all set to portray one of the boldest avatar as the transgender activist ‘Shreegauri Sawant’, in the upcoming series ‘Taali’. The 47 seconds teaser which was unveiled on Saturday, gives a sneak peek of the courageous quest of struggles, resilience and triumph.

It starts with Sushmita’s deep and rich voice saying, “Namaskar main Gauri Sawant.” Sushmita as ‘Gauri’ is donning a grey saree with yellow blouse, a gajra on her bun. She adjusts her saree’s pallu, wearing a pendant of ‘Sai Baba’, and applies a big red bindi on the forehead, while looking herself at a mirror.

The voiceover given by the actress further says, “Jisse koi ‘Hijra’ kehta hai, koi ‘social worker’. Koi ‘nautanki’ bulata hai koi ‘gamechanger’. Ye kahani isi safar ki hai. Gaali se Taali Tak.”

Gauri is seen sitting with a panel on stage, and the crowd is clapping for her.

Mumbai, July 7 (Ians) Ott platforms have lined up a must-watch array of multi-genre content, from a thriller to a chilling horror drama, to a slice-of-life story, and more, giving you an opportunity to immerse yourself in captivating narratives.

From Sonam Kapoor’s unusual crime drama ‘Blind’ to the biopic on renowned cookbook writer Tarla Dalal, played by Huma Qureshi, Ott platforms are all delivering raw, resonant and moving content.

Here’s a list of this week’s unmissable titles:

‘Blind’ (July 7): Riveting Tale of Secrets

An intense drama headlined by Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, ‘Blind’ promises a perfect combination of suspense and drama, backed by an engrossing and nuanced storyline.

With an ensemble cast featuring Purab Kohli, Vinay Pathak, Lilette Dubey and Shubham Saraf, directed by Shome Makhija, ‘Blind’ is a captivating story of a visually impaired yet resilient woman (played by Sonam) who becomes a key witness to a crime.

Unveiling the historic win of 1971 India-Pakistan war with the untold story of India’s greatest spy mission. Taking you on the flight of this mysterious journey of Ib Agent Dev Jammwal (Vidyut Jammwal). Produced by T-Series, Reliance Entertainment, and Action Hero Films and directed by Sankalp.

The film stars the action packed Vidyut Jammwal along with Anupam Kher, Vishal Jethwa, Faizan, Khan, Ashwath Bhatt, Danny Sura, Dalip Tahil, Suvrat joshi and many others

Talking about the film, Director Sankalp said, “A legendary chronicle of India’s biggest war was a story to explore, with the finest actors Vidyut Jammwal, Anupam Kher and many others this inspiring story was brought to life. Each actor passionately symbolizes the story, evoking the shared passion for this historical chapter. With the film streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, Ib 71 allows a wider audience to experience the epic tale of that war.”

Talking about the release,...

Actors Mrunmayee Deshpande, Sayali Sanjeev, Suvrat Joshi and Resham Shrivardhan have been set to star in the upcoming streaming Marathi film ‘Na Aavadti Goshta’. The film is a coming of age story and touches upon the subject of Lgbtqia+.

Directed by Sai Deodhar, who is also the producer, the film narrates the journey of two sisters and their navigating family and relationships. It shows how the family is needed to support queer people. Though the film deals with a sensitive subject, it is portrayed in a sweet manner with humour making it a family film.

The director shared, “We need to make more films like this in various regional industries. I am glad to have directed this project where family is the core, yet we deal with sensitive subjects with compassion. Directing this film was definitely a challenge I enjoyed. The actors have given ace performances which make Na Aavadti Goshta even more delightful.

After his stupendous stint in the Marathi movie ‘Katyar Kaljat Ghusali’, singer and music composer Shankar Mahadevan has now given his voice to ‘Bahar Aala’ song from the Marathi film ‘Goshta Eka Paithanichi’, which bagged the honour of the ‘Best Marathi Film’ at the 68th National Film Awards. The song hit the airwaves on Monday.

The romantic number draws comparison between a lover and a blooming flower. The song has been picturised on Sayali Sanjeev and Suvrat Joshi.

Speaking about the song, Shankar Mahadevan said: “It was a beautiful composition fitting fantastically in a simple, moving story. It is a meaningful song with a sense of timelessness to it. I am glad that it is part of such a special film.”

He further mentioned: “‘Bahar Aala’ has the quality to take listeners down the memory lane and have a quiet, serene celebration of love. I love singing Marathi songs because...

Winning the National Award for its simple yet powerful story, ‘Goshta Eka Paithanichi’ is ready to release in cinemas on 2nd December 2022. In a world where dreams are dictated by one’s status in society, the trailer gives a sneak peek into the quiet determination of a simple, common woman.

The trailer introduces viewers to a charming world filled with big hopes, unwavering convictions, and humble honesty. Audiences will find the scenes beautifully capturing the grandiosity of dreams, just like Maharashtra’s famous saree ‘Paithani’. Flavours of integrity shine through some really heart-warming scenes. The dialogues reveal the real, candid shades of various characters in the movie.

Gorgeous actor, Sayali Sanjeev who plays the lead role in the film commented “This character has taught me many valuable life lessons. As a film, it has so much to give its audience. I remember many scenes that made me so emotional and...

National award winner Akshay Bardapurkar, the man behind changing the face of Marathi entertainment received the highest honours for a film from the hands of The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. Having given the industry some of its biggest wins in a short span, Bardapurkar was presented with the ‘Best Marathi Film’ award for his production ‘Goshta Eka Paithanichi’ which will release on 2nd December 2022 in cinemas.

The award-winning ‘Goshta Eka Paithanichi’ tells a simple story of a woman’s will and resilience, led by actor Sayali Sanjeev, who has received great praise for her stellar performance along with her co-actors Suvrat Joshi and Mrinal Kulkarni.

Tracking his trajectory, Bardapurkar has been seen creating a large thriving space for strong female talent. Be it web or cinema, his stories have set new benchmarks in the industry for women. On Ott, the gritty political thriller ‘Raanbaazaar’ which trended in 7+ countries...