Ardhanaari

Ardhanaari
Ardhanaari
Directed by	Santhosh Souparnika
Written by	Santhosh Souparnika
Produced by	M. G. Sreekumar
Starring	Manoj K. Jayan; Mahalakshmi ; Thilakan; Sukumari; Sai Kumar
Cinematography	Hemachandran
Edited by	Abhilash Viswanath
Music by	M. G. Sreekumar; Rajeev Alunkal (lyrics); V Madhusoodanan Nair (lyrics); Pazhayidam Somarajan (lyrics)
Production; company	MG Sound & Frames Company
Distributed by	MG Sound & Frames Release
Release date	23 November 2012 (Kerala);
Country	India
Language	Malayalam

Ardhanaari (2012) is a Malayalam film about the life of transgender people in Kerala. The film is directed by Santhosh Souparnika and produced by M. G. Sreekumar under his production house MG Sound & Frames.^[1]^[2]

Manjula (Manoj K. Jayan), is a transgender with male physique and female behavioural traits, which leads to ridicule and snide remarks from her brother and others. The film brings out the rituals, customs, angst and preferences of transgenders. The title of the film alludes to the half male and half female Hindu god Ardhanarishvara. Also starring in the film are Mahalakshmi, Maniyanpilla Raju, Thilakan, Sukumari and Sai Kumar. It was one of the last films featuring veteran actor Thilakan who died from heart attack weeks before the release of the film.

The film opened to mixed critical reviews but the performance by Manoj K. Jayan as a transgender gained unanimous appreciation.^[3]^[4]