Documentary ‘Amma’s Pride’ Spotlights Landmark Trans Marriage Case in India

The film is a selection at the International Film Festival of India in Goa.

 Tamil Nadu’s first legally-registered trans marriage takes center stage in director Shiva Krish’s documentary short “Amma’s Pride,” the sole LGBTQ+ selection at this year’s International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.

The film chronicles the journey of Srija, a trans woman from South India, and her groundbreaking legal victory that secured her right to marry her cisgender partner, Arun. At the heart of the narrative is Srija’s relationship with her mother Valli, whose support proves crucial amid mounting societal pressures.

“I came across an article in 2019 about how Srija became the first trans person to register her marriage in Tamil Nadu through a historic court verdict,” Krish said. “When I started spending time with Srija and her family, I realized the importance of her mother Valli, who was her biggest champion. That was something which none of the press had reported.”

The documentary, four years in the making, brings together a team of producers with deep connections to the subject matter. New York-based Chithra Jeyaram, who grew up in Thoothukudi where the film is set, joined forces with Los Angeles-based D’Lo, a queer and trans Tamil-Sri Lankan-American artist whose work centers on trans resistance and joy.

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Following its IFFI premiere, the production team has unveiled plans for an impact campaign titled “Path to Pride: When Love Thrives, Pride Follows.” The initiative aims to reach over one million people through community screenings across major Indian cities and Tamil Nadu villages, before extending to U.S. cities during Pride Month 2025.

“In a world where positive portrayals of transgender individuals are scarce, ‘Amma’s Pride’ offers an intimate and transformative story,” Krish noted. The film concludes with Valli’s aspiration: “Parents should support their trans children, I’ll have the greatest satisfaction when that becomes the norm.”

Impact producer Ahaanaa Malhotra, a Columbia University Documentary Program graduate, is spearheading efforts to leverage the film for social change through grassroots community engagement. The campaign will roll out in three phases, targeting Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Bangalore, followed by Tamil Nadu villages, and culminating in screenings across five major U.S. cities.

Courtesy: Variety

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