Neela Nira Sooriyan review: Samyuktha Vijayan champions tale of transitioning which is rooted in realism

Neela Nira Sooriyan review: Starring Samyuktha Vijayan, the film is a poignant portrayal of a physics teacher transitioning into a woman named Bhanu.

Samyuktha Vijayan in a still from Neela Nira Sooriyan

Neela Nira Sooriyan story

Aravind is a physics teacher at a school and is in the process of transitioning as a woman. Soon to be known as Bhanu, Neela Nira Sooriyan is the subtle yet strong narrative telling of how the protagonist is received from members around her surroundings, as soon she reveals about the physical change.

Neela Nira Sooriyan review

It comes as a no-brainer when Aravind’s decision to transition comes as a shocker to his family members and colleagues. Honor is the word and “How even?” is the question, that time and again stops people from accepting Bhanu’s reality. But amid this, Bhanu’s cousin sister (Semmalar Annam) who has already been facing the patriarchal society’s wrath of being childless one-sidedly, asks her why she too wants to fall into the curse of being a woman on purpose. The scene speaks louder in terms of both feminism and empathy, especially when the plethora of men around Bhanu look at her as an object of desire, be it a teaching colleague who wishes to explore friends with benefits option with a transperson or her cousin’s husband who finds Bhanu more attractive than she was as Aravind.

Also read: The Ultimatum: Queer Love review: A painful but satisfying journey to love 

Samyuktha Vijayan who wrote, directed, and starred in the film as Aravind/Bhanu, makes Neela Nira Sooriyan a film not about the outward brutality faced by transgender folks, but one more on the subtle and passive regressive form of unacceptance. For example, when Aravind comes out as a transwoman and reveals his transitioning to his parents, Samyuktha does not make a huge hue and cry about employing physically violent parents (Gajaraj and Geetha Kailasam). Or for that matter, when teachers and vice-principal argue with the correspondent that such a colleague cannot work among them, the latter is more invested in making Bhanu’s journey as a promotional drive to highlight the school’s “progressive” thinking. As part of this, Bhanu is given a separate restroom, a dilapidated one. Not because the school chooses to accommodate her, but because the cisgender women refuse to use the same washroom as Bhanu. She is also made to fight against the school deadnaming her as Aravind. So much is told in so few words in Samyuktha’s film, just like we see at the beginning of the film where Aravind practices his female voice only to be dejected to be identified as a man over a call.

Neela Nira Sooriyan is also partly about a student named Karthik (Masanth) who is bullied for his self-expression as a gender-fluid person. We get a little less of his journey which has just begun, and looks up to Bhanu. The film effortlessly speaks for the queer community and goes beyond the stereotypical portrayal of brutality imposed on them. In a scene taking place outside the government office where Bhanu wants to change her name, a lady with an infant asks Bhanu to bless her and even offers money. As Bhanu refuses, the lady remains in confusion over her refusal. We understand Bhanu does not want to give into the typical behaviors the society associates transwomen with. Amid all this drama, Bhanu’s only pillar of support is physical education teacher Haritha, who stands by her and is more vocal in her support. It is details like these that make the film a lighter yet provoking watch.

The film does not delve into the personal effects a transperson goes through, the bodily and mental aspects, or even the practical difficulties. Instead, the film behaves like a mirror from within the society on how even small actions leave a big imprint on such individuals.

Also Read: Neela Nira Sooriyan at IFFI 2023: Elated I am on the same list as Vetri Maaran and Mani Ratnam, says Samyuktha Vijayan 

Neela Nira Sooriyan verdict

Neela Nira Sooriyan is a subtly staged and carefully stringed moment taken from the perspective of a transperson who is at the stage of experiencing change. While Tamil films have rarely explored these moments, Samyuktha’s film comes as a refreshing creation to invite people into the world of empathy. With neat performances, strong writing, and clean execution, Neela Nira Sooriyan is just like its title- soothing and shining.

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