A photo shoot modeled after Ravi Varma’s films with transgender individuals as models is garnering attention. The shoot was created by photographer Sharon with the intention of rewriting the general concepts of beauty. Sheetal Shyam, Sandra and Honey are the models. Raja Ravivarma’s The Milkmaid, Premapatram, Lady with Lamp, Shakuntala, Lady Taking Bath, Village Belle and Riveria paintings have been reproduced.
Sharon says that Ravi Varma’s paintings feature white women with fixed shapes, and that this concept of beauty remains strong in the public consciousness even today, and it was an attempt to question the problems it creates. The media of art, literature, advertising, television, pictures, cinema, and photography reinforced this general sense of beauty. As a result, the derision of dark-skinned and sexual minorities continues to this day. Sharon also says that this led to the idea of using transgender individuals as models while re-enacting Ravi Varma’s films. Ravi Varma films have been remade in many ways before. Most of them tried to stick to the beauty concepts of the original films. It does not change, but rather reinforces the common sense. We need to challenge such common sense in the social situation where we need to be reminded that whiteness is not the only beauty and that there are other genders among us besides male and female.”- Sharon said.
Sheetal Shyam is the model for Milk Maid, Prema Patram and Lady with Lamp. Shakuntala and Lady Taking Bath paintings were presented by Honey and Village Belle and Reverie by Sandra. The location is activist man Elur’s house. Editing by Manu Gopal and Telbin PK. Coordinator Jamsheena Mullapat. Makeup and styling by Aarti Das and Asha Sundaram.